1-28-02, 4:35 p.m.
BY GEOFF HOBSON
NEW ORLEANS _ The Bengals plan to interview candidates for a safeties coach to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Ray Horton, but aren't very far in the process.
Bengals President Mike Brown wouldn't divulge names of those to be interviewed Monday, but he said the club plans to look at coaches from both the college and NFL ranks.
In another development, it looked like running back Corey Dillon might not get that third straight trip to Hawaii. Indications from Pittsburgh are
that Jerome Bettis plans to make the trip to the Feb. 9 Pro Bowl despite his groin injury.
On Sunday, in his first extended appearance in nearly two months after suffering the injury, Bettis looked slow and tentative in the Steelers' 24-17 loss to the Patriots in the AFC championship game in which he had just eight yards on nine carries. But those close to the Steelers said Monday that Bettis has indicated he would play in the Pro Bowl.
Dillon, who finished with about 300 more yards than Bettis, had been named a first alternate and would go if Bettis, or the Jets' Curtis Martin, or the Chiefs' Priest Holmes, didn't go.
