Tuesday, April 20, 2004
The Bengals received a second-round draft pick.
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Corey Dillon wanted out. He got his wish, and a lot more.
The running back, who set records but never made the playoffs in Cincinnati, is joining a locker room where players collect Super Bowl rings.
The New England Patriots filled one of their biggest holes Monday by trading a second-round draft pick for Dillon, who hopes to extend their run of two championships in three years.
He wanted to go to a winner, but never expected to go all the way to the top.
"They were winning Super Bowls without me," Dillon said. "There's no pressure on me to come in and have the weight of trying to carry the load."
Former focus
He carried that burden in Cincinnati, where for seven years he was the focus of a lost franchise. The Bengals built around him, but all of Dillon's stiff-arms and rushing records couldn't turn them into a winner.
"It could get tiresome," said Dillon, who holds most Bengals' rushing records. "It kind of wore on me."
It pained him when the Bengals started winning without him last season. Dillon, 29, strained his groin, and backup Rudi Johnson won fans' hearts and a share of the job.
The Bengals got into playoff contention for the first time since 1990, finishing 8-8 and missing out by one game. Dillon was the only one in the locker room who didn't enjoy the ride.
He bristled when first-year coach Marvin Lewis tried to make him more of a team leader. He complained about his lack of carries even as the team was starting to win.
Severed ties
Finally, he forced Lewis' hand by making himself a reminder of the Bengals' sorry past. He threw his helmet, shoulder pads and spikes into the stands at Paul Brown Stadium after the final game, then cleaned out his locker.
As recently as last month, he was still lobbying for a trade. He appeared on a sports talk show wearing a Raiders jersey and lashed out at a teammate.
Dillon agreed to restructure the last two years on his contract, softening the Patriots' salary cap hit for 2004, in order to make the deal. The Patriots gave up the 56th overall pick for Dillon, who was a second-round selection -- the 43rd overall -- in 1997.