Overview:
• Former Bengals running back Corey Dillon was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor, mending a fractured relationship.
• Despite initial struggles and strained ties, the honor reflects Dillon's impact and the potential for reconciliation over time.
It’s always funny how things work out in life. You think you’ll have one shining star and something totally unexpected happens. Ki-Jana Carter was the Bengals top pick in 1995. The Penn State star was suppose to be the next Jim Brown. Carter lasted all of one preseason game. Cincinnati would draft Corey Dillon out of the University of Washington in the 2nd round in 1997. It would turn out to be one of the best draft picks the Bengals would ever make.
From nearly the second Dillon got here, he became an impact player. As a rookie Dillon rewrote the record books. He would set a rookie record of 246 yards against the Tennessee Oilers in a mind blowing performance. Two seasons later he would set an NFL record in rushing yards in a game with 278 yards against the Denver Broncos. Cincinnati had caught lightning in a bottle in their running game.
It was great to see Cincinnati so dominant in running. The problem was that was pretty much all the team had. Dillon’s strong running didn’t translate much into Bengal victories. The losing wore on Dillion and he soon became estranged from the team and Bengal management. It got to the point where the Washington native became outspoken against the Bengals and wanting to play for them. “I’d rather flip burgers at Wendys,” said Dillon during one of his frustrating seasons.
In 2004, Dillon’s act became tiered with the Bengals. Cincinnati traded Dillon to the New England Patriots. From there Dillon would continue to flourish. His first season with the New England Patriots would end in more than 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns. More importantly for Dillon, he would finally win a Super Bowl ring. He would go on to play two more seasons with the Patriots before finally retiring. He would finish with more than 11,000 yards rushing and 82 touchdowns.
They say time heals all wounds. Time was even able to patch up a fractured relationship between Dillon and the Bengals. This past week the decision was made to induct Dillon into the Bengals famed Ring of Honor along with another Bengal great Tim Krumrie.
“He called me and we had a great talk,” said Dillon when he got the word from Bengal owner Mike Brown for the honor. Dillon was the most prolific running back in Bengal history. The team honoring Dillon shows bygones can be bygones, and anything is possible when it’s the right thing to do.