RedEyE
10-16-2002, 06:41 PM
http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2002/1016/1446747.html
Frustrated Dillon threatens retirement
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ESPN.com news services
CINCINNATI -- Corey Dillon says if the Bengals don't get their act together, he will retire after this season.
Apparently fed up with all the losing -- the Bengals are the only winless team remaining in the NFL -- Dillon says he might not come back next season if major changes are not made.
"They better get it right, or, at the end of the season, I've got a surprise for them," Dillon told a team employee in an interview posted on the Bengals' Web site. "I'm tired of it. Six years of this B.S. I ain't lying to you.-- I'm sick of this crap, period."
Dillon also told the team Web site that he has options other than playing out his contract. "I've got plenty; believe that," he said.
After Tuesday's practice, Dillon would not elaborate on his comments when approached by reporters. This came one day after Bengals' linebacker Takeo Spikes said the situation and attitude surrounding the franchise was the worst he's seen in his five years with the team.
After Sunday's loss to the Steelers, running back Lorenzo Neal also lashed out.
We're the laughingstock of the league,'' Neal said. "It's embarrassing. It's a disgrace. Teams just look at you with no respect.''
"When you're in the position we're in, you're going to have this kind of thing," Bengals president Mike Brown said. "It's always a challenge for people to sit back and not flare out.
"Heck, I've said things that aren't too dissimilar in the sense that, when I'm there and we're getting trounced, I might say something more than, 'Gee wiz.' I think our guys are frustrated, they're hurt, and their comments reflect that. There isn't anybody down here who is feeling good about life right now."
Head coach Dick LeBeau said he didn't read what Dillon and Spikes had said. Told what Dillon had said, LeBeau said, "If you talked to him today, you'd get a different story." Dillon is in his sixth season with the Bengals. After the last game of his third season, 1999, Dillon said he would never play again for the Bengals and later said he would rather "flip burgers." Obviously he did not follow through on his threat.
This is the second time that the Bengals have started 0-6 with Dillon on the team. They are the lowest-scoring team in the NFL, and their struggling passing attack has allowed defenses to focus on Dillon. He takes a pounding each game, but has just 24 victories in 86 games to show for it.
If he retires, Dillon would forfeit $6.3 million of his $10.5 million signing bonus. He signed a five-year contract worth $26 million last year. Dillon also would give up base salaries of $3 million, $3.3 million and $3.95 million in the next three years. His contract also includes the Bengals' standard loyalty clause, which gives the club the right to recoup signing bonus money paid to a player if he is excessively critical of the team in public.
Brown said Dillon didn't "go beyond the line" and violate the clause.
Dillon already is the leading rusher in franchise history and owns the NFL's individual single-game rushing record of 278 yards, set Oct. 22, 2000, in a victory over the Denver Broncos. Dillon has rushed for 464 yards so far this season with a respectable 4.2-yard per-carry average.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Frustrated Dillon threatens retirement
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services
CINCINNATI -- Corey Dillon says if the Bengals don't get their act together, he will retire after this season.
Apparently fed up with all the losing -- the Bengals are the only winless team remaining in the NFL -- Dillon says he might not come back next season if major changes are not made.
"They better get it right, or, at the end of the season, I've got a surprise for them," Dillon told a team employee in an interview posted on the Bengals' Web site. "I'm tired of it. Six years of this B.S. I ain't lying to you.-- I'm sick of this crap, period."
Dillon also told the team Web site that he has options other than playing out his contract. "I've got plenty; believe that," he said.
After Tuesday's practice, Dillon would not elaborate on his comments when approached by reporters. This came one day after Bengals' linebacker Takeo Spikes said the situation and attitude surrounding the franchise was the worst he's seen in his five years with the team.
After Sunday's loss to the Steelers, running back Lorenzo Neal also lashed out.
We're the laughingstock of the league,'' Neal said. "It's embarrassing. It's a disgrace. Teams just look at you with no respect.''
"When you're in the position we're in, you're going to have this kind of thing," Bengals president Mike Brown said. "It's always a challenge for people to sit back and not flare out.
"Heck, I've said things that aren't too dissimilar in the sense that, when I'm there and we're getting trounced, I might say something more than, 'Gee wiz.' I think our guys are frustrated, they're hurt, and their comments reflect that. There isn't anybody down here who is feeling good about life right now."
Head coach Dick LeBeau said he didn't read what Dillon and Spikes had said. Told what Dillon had said, LeBeau said, "If you talked to him today, you'd get a different story." Dillon is in his sixth season with the Bengals. After the last game of his third season, 1999, Dillon said he would never play again for the Bengals and later said he would rather "flip burgers." Obviously he did not follow through on his threat.
This is the second time that the Bengals have started 0-6 with Dillon on the team. They are the lowest-scoring team in the NFL, and their struggling passing attack has allowed defenses to focus on Dillon. He takes a pounding each game, but has just 24 victories in 86 games to show for it.
If he retires, Dillon would forfeit $6.3 million of his $10.5 million signing bonus. He signed a five-year contract worth $26 million last year. Dillon also would give up base salaries of $3 million, $3.3 million and $3.95 million in the next three years. His contract also includes the Bengals' standard loyalty clause, which gives the club the right to recoup signing bonus money paid to a player if he is excessively critical of the team in public.
Brown said Dillon didn't "go beyond the line" and violate the clause.
Dillon already is the leading rusher in franchise history and owns the NFL's individual single-game rushing record of 278 yards, set Oct. 22, 2000, in a victory over the Denver Broncos. Dillon has rushed for 464 yards so far this season with a respectable 4.2-yard per-carry average.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.