5-17-01, 3:55 p.m.
BY GEOFF HOBSON
Memo to agent David Dunn and Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn:
Corey Dillon is shooting for another contract after the 2005 season.
Only the incomparable Jim Brown gained more yards on fewer carries in his first four seasons in the NFL than Dillon, which is a major reason he doesn't think his new five-year deal is going to be his last NFL contract.
There is plenty of tread on the tires for a guy who turns 27 on Oct. 24. And he's lobbying for more work. He wants to change the scheme of the last few years and remain on the field for third down running and receiving.
He knows he's going to get more work with Dick LeBeau in his first full season as head coach. In fact, Dillon does a great imitation of LeBeau talking to the team in the way he emphasizes words with his body sway:
"We've got a four-straight 1,000-yard rusher and we're going to run the football."
Plus, quarterback Jon Kitna, who worked this offense in Seattle, has marked Dillon down for 40 catches.
"I have less carries and about the same amount of yards," Dillon said Thursday of the top running backs. "That has to tell you something. To me, that's a plus. Maybe nine years for one guy is 12 or 14 for me. I'm going to go until I can't run anymore. I can't guarantee anything, but if it pans out and the Lord keeps me healthy, I don't see why not."
Dillon's 4,894 yards on 1,073 rushes is the 11th best four-year start in NFL history. But the only man ahead of him with fewer carries is Brown with 5,055 yards on 964 carries.
The top three Eric Dickerson (6,968) , Earl Campbell (6,453), Terrell Davis (6,413) all had at
