Dillon had plenty in tank
Former Bengal roars in return
CINCINNATI -- The last time Corey Dillon played a regular-season game in Cincinnati he tossed his cleats, helmet, and shoulder pads into the stands at Paul Brown Stadium. Yesterday, it was just a football.
Dillon, who turned his final game with the Bengals, a 22-14 loss to Cleveland on Dec. 28, 2003, into an impromptu yard sale, had one last parting gift for Bengals backers yesterday in New England's 38-13 victory. After he barreled in from a yard out on fourth and goal early in the fourth quarter to give New England a commanding 31-13 lead, the Bengals' all-time leading rusher fired the ball into the seats in an emphatic display of emotion.
That was the only message Dillon, who was presented with a game ball by coach Bill Belichick, sent to his former teammates and fans. After remaining silent all week about his return to Cincinnati, the man nicknamed CD continued to press the mute button, shaking off reporters like would-be tacklers after the game.
However, Dillon's 31-year-old legs did the talking for him yesterday, as he rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
``Corey's the type of guy, he wants to send his message by his play, not his talk," said safety Rodney Harrison. ``He has a lot of respect for those guys. He's played with those guys. He's been with those guys for the worst of times. But in the same breath, he comes back home and of course he wants to make a statement. Corey played well. He ran well. He was humble the whole week, and I think he made a statement."
The 10-year veteran teamed with understudy Laurence Maroney (15 carries for 125 yards and two touchdowns) to lead a New England offense that ground up the Bengals, racking up 236 yards rushing on 41 attempts, the most by a New England team since Dec. 26, 1993 against Indianapolis (257 yards).
Even quarterback Tom Brady got into the act with a career-long 22-yard scramble on third and 13 in the third quarter.
But there was no doubt the day belonged to Dillon.
It was clear from the outset that this was not just another game for Dillon, who still holds 16 Bengals records, including career rushing (8,061), most 1,000-yard seasons (six), total yards from scrimmage (9,543), and most 100-yard rushing games (28).
Dillon carried the ball on New England's first two plays, picking up 5 yards and 7 yards. He had 23 yards on his first four carries. Even Belichick noticed his plow horse had a little extra giddy-up.
``You could see the excitement and the energy in his preparation all week," said Belichick. ``I think he played with a little something extra coming back here."
That something extra may have been something to prove -- to himself, to the media members who say he's too old and too slow, to the franchise he spent seven seasons with, after which he was stuck with the label of malcontent.
``I think really any guy that comes back to the team that they played for they're going to come back there with a chip on their shoulder with something to prove and Corey is no different from any other guy in the league," said center Dan Koppen.
Technically, this was Dillon's second trip back to his old stomping grounds. The Patriots played their first preseason game against the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in 2005. Dillon rushed four times for 26 yards. You wouldn't have known that from the way he was greeted by the 66,035 fans yesterday. When his name was announced before kickoff, Dillon was roundly booed.
There were no cheers from the fans when Dillon passed Ricky Watters for 15th place on the all-time rushing list on a 12-yard run late in the third quarter. The run was a reminder of how great Dillon, who now has 10,665 career rushing yards, has been in his career.
He is the only active NFL back with more than 10,000 yards.
``You guys always say Corey's losing it," said Harrison. ``Corey is a great back. Corey can play. Of course he doesn't have the same burst that Laurence Maroney has. This guy is [21] years old with fresh legs, but Corey is a tremendous back and I feel he's a future Hall of Famer."
But sometimes Dillon's surliness supersedes his ability. The truth, said fullback Heath Evans, is that Dillon has a softer side that is reserved for friends, family, and teammates.
That's why, Evans said, Dillon's teammates wanted him to get that fourth-quarter touchdown, which came on his third try from the 1, and more importantly helped seal a victory.
``The guys wanted to try to knock one out of the park for him," said Evans. ``He was the heart and soul of this team. He still is. He's the horse we ride. It was a special night for No. 28." 