BelichickFan

He didn't react well when the Bengals brought in competition.

BelichickFan

I kind of agree with Felger that last year we heard what great shape Dillon was in and even before getting hurt he looked bad. My guess is somewhere between a year older and sulking. I am not confident this ends well and I predict Maroney gets more carries than Dillon in 2006.

smg93

He's been working hard already so that is a good start. He was pissed off because they weren't winning in cinci more than anything else. I think he'll be professional about this because he knows that this year may be his last chance to prove that he is the #1 back. At any rate, CD would be better off having less carries anyway. He's better when playing fresh i think, especially now that age will catch up with him as it has with all of us over 30!

BelichickFan

The problem is he was "working hard" and in great shape last offseason and looked like crap from Game One. So I don't believe it, although I hope it's true.

shmessy

He looked plenty beaten up in the SB in 2004. He was a workhorse that year and may have been slightly overused. Don't forget, this isn't a Curtis Martin-Barry Sanders-type runner. This guy is a diesel who takes and initiates contact.

The very first game last year against the Raiders, he looked tired and ineffective in the first series he actually played (IIRC the Pats only passed the first 1 or 2 series). His first 4-5 carries averaged only 2 yards or less. The only baseball analogy I can come up with is "dead arm pitcher". It was at that very early point in the season that ABC's camera's caught that famous clip of Brady on the sidelines "strongly encouraging him" while Dillon had a disgusted and resigned look on his face.

This is a proud man. He is p.o'd because of last year's performance, the media harping on his age and (probably) the 1st rounder to eventually succeed him.

I can't quantify my excitement at seeing such a p.o'd Dillon this year. This will be goooooooooooood!!!!!!!

__________________
"They (Patriots) may be the greatest team ever" - Chris Mortenson, January 18, 2005 on espn.com

MoLewisrocks

I suppose it could go either of those ways, but this isn't the Bengals either. Corey is now three years older, has a ring and has a little chip on his shoulder because of last year. This team won't allow him to sulk or be disruptive. How much of last year was actually a high ankle sprain and how much was natural progression we don't know just yet. But BB and TB were both pretty adamant last season that effort was not the problem - it was execution. And I think after 2004 many teams were also determined to stop the run when they faced us. I also recall he threw some hellacious blocks along the way. That led me to conclude that he was missing his burst and cut ability and holes weren't prevalent enough or were closing too quickly to make up for it. That's why at times I think Faulk appeared more effective. Remember BB drafted a big beast for that line too.

spacecrime

The pats aren't the bengals. the situation may not be the same.

Patters

BB called him a little before drafting Maroney, and I thinks that a gesture that Dillon must have appreciated. I think he'll work really hard knowing that this might be his last year to shine.

SeanBruschi54

He'll push even harder to make sure he is the starter. If he does have a great year what do we do with him after this year? Do we trade him away?

If he has a bad year we know he's not being traded for nothing.

JJDChE

Was he really upset when they brought in competition in Cincy? I remember him lashing out at the media that year because they were dogging him and saying he wanted to be traded, but I didn't think it was ever about Rudi Johnson.