Patriots Day: Dillon to Pats for second-rounder
Corey Dillon
4-19-04, 4:15 p.m.
BY GEOFF HOBSON
Marvin Lewis and Corey Dillon had their wishes granted Monday when the Bengals traded their disenchanted running back to the Super Bowl champion Patriots for a second-round draft pick.
Lewis not only received the club?s fifth choice out of the 96 on the first day of Saturday?s NFL Draft in exchange for Dillon, but he also rid himself of a player that never endeared himself to the Bengals? new regime and never missed a chance to lobby himself out of town.
The Bengals? bid to mold Cincinnati into a younger roster more committed to Lewis? program has now netted the Bengals two trades in 10 days, 10 choices on draft weekend, and seven picks in the first 117 choices that take them into the middle of the fourth round.
.......Great news for both teams. New England gets their RB and Cincy gets rid of bad news in the locker room. Corey is a good back who has shown signs of wear the past couple of seasons. There is no doubt that Dillon is a workout warrior, the only question is about how he fits in as far as team chemistry. Looking back at how he called Willie Anderson a bum on The Best Damn Sports Show after years of Anderson opening holes for him to run through and also coming off a Pro Bowl season does not show great class. But the change of scenery could do wonders for him. The big question is wheter he takes his me first attitude to the Patriots. I assume that Bellichick has addressed Dillon with this before the trade went through. No doubt that the teams in the AFC East are hating the Bengals right now.
This also is a great trade for Cincy who now has 7 of the first 117 picks in the draft. Marvin Lewis and his staff already have somewhat of a leg up on the other teams in terms of scouting the players due to fact that their staff coached in the Senior Bowl. Lewis should be able to build a great foundation for years to come now that he has 1 pick in the first round and 2 picks each in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th round now. Lewis has done a great job of addressing areas of need in the off season and the rumor that they have already agreed upon on a contract with DT Daryl Gardener as soon as he is released from the Broncos fills another area of need and gives the Bengals some flexibilty now in the draft.
Great day for Patriot and Bengals fans!!
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