FWtex

If Marvin Lewis keeps this up I think cincy may turn things around. Lewis is trying to make his leaders act like winners and not allowing them to hide from the media. If the players know they will have to answer to the media don't you think they will be more inclined to play better. I like this tactic.


Reluctant star RB Dillon coerced into talking to media

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/6633611

Sept. 11, 2003
SportsLine.com wire reports

CINCINNATI -- Corey Dillon stood to the side of the lectern, visibly displeased to be taking questions from the media. The Cincinnati Bengals' most reluctant interview made it clear he wasn't there voluntarily.

Coach Marvin Lewis made him do it.

The Bengals' most accomplished player met with the media Thursday, giving a rare glimpse of what's going on inside of him. The moody running back prefers to keep to himself.

One of Lewis' goals is to make Dillon more of a team leader. Part of the plan is getting Dillon to talk.

Instead of playing video games in the players' lounge at lunchtime Thursday, Dillon met reporters across the hall in an interview room. He was not thrilled to be there.

"I could have been over there playing PlayStation and eating my lunch, but (Lewis) came in there, drug me out of there, and now I'm here talking to you guys," Dillon said. "He's the boss. If I mind or not, I've got to do what he says to do."

The seventh-year running back did a conference call with Denver reporters before the season opener, the first time in his career he'd talked to out-of-town reporters before a game.

He refused repeated requests to talk to Bengals beat reporters. He hadn't had a session with the local media since last April, when Lewis ordered him to talk about why he refused to attend a voluntary minicamp.

Dillon, who ran for an NFL-record 278 yards against Denver in 2000, said he's not interested in publicity or celebrity.

"I don't like it," he said. "I'm not here to try to blow up and be this great movie star."

Lewis has talked to Dillon about the responsibilities attached to being a team's most famous player. Lewis seemed puzzled by Dillon's reluctance.

"He doesn't seem to be looking for the media-type attention," Lewis said after Dillon's interview. "It's different. But I don't think he's being two-faced about it. He's sincere in not wanting the attention.

"That's better than the other side, the guy who wants it but doesn't deserve it."

Although Dillon is still a reluctant interview, he has become a little more vocal with teammates. Receiver Chad Johnson said Dillon lashed out in the locker room at halftime of a season-opening 30-10 loss to Denver.

"That's not CD, though," Johnson said. "That's not even his persona. He will do it every once in a while when things get bad. But this past Sunday, he was mad. He said, 'Look here, I'm going to show you all what I'm going to do. You all are either going to follow me ..."'

Dillon managed only 34 yards on 14 carries against Denver as the Bengals' offensive line collapsed. On half of his runs, he was held to 1 yard, no gain or a loss.

Lewis thinks if the Bengals start winning, Dillon will emerge from his shell and start enjoying the attention. The Bengals haven't had a winning season since 1990, stamping them as the NFL's worst team.

Until then, Lewis is trying to manage his hesitant star by having him talk to the media once a week and encouraging him to be a leader.

"Corey would like to come here, do his job, be with his guys and kind of go home and do his thing," Lewis said. "That's what he'd really like to do."



AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service