We’re looking at the best running backs in Cincinnati Bengals history. We finish off this position group with a look at the No. 1 guy on the list.
The Cincinnati Bengals have almost started training camp in full, but aren’t quite there yet. That’s right — we’re still in the heart of the offseason and the frustrating lack of football that it brings. Having said that, we still have plenty to talk about.
Namely over the past couple months, that has consisted of looking back at the best players at specific position groups in Bengals history. That began with quarterbacks and has since shifted to the running backs.
We’ve already discussed the Nos. 5-2 running backs in team history. Today, we’ll be discussing the top guy on the list.
1. Corey Dillon
During this exercise, I tried to find a way to justify not having Dillon be the top guy. If this exercise is done objectively and focuses heavily on the on-field impact of an individual, however, there was no way it could be anybody else.
For those who may wonder why it may be tough to accept Dillon as the best running back in team history, it is attributed mainly to the lack of success the franchise endured in his tenure, but also at least a little bit for the way he handled it. For Dillon’s Cincinnati years, the Bengals were trapped in the Bungles era, producing very little in the way of victories. In Dillon’s seven years with the team Cincinnati went 34-78, with five seasons of double-digit losses, four with 12+ losses and zero winning campaigns.
That part cannot be blamed on him (as you’ll see, he was uber productive), but his response to the situation could be to a certain degree. He made numerous public statements which paint the picture of a malcontent, which is certainly understandable but does have the unfortunate side-effect of hurting a legacy.
In 2001, he was quoted as saying, “at the end of the season, what do I have to feel good about? Nothing at all. It’s not cool.” He also remarked at another time that Cincinnati wouldn’t win with the Brown family in charge. The next year, his thoughts only became more concrete: “I’m tired of it, six years of this B.S. I ain’t lying to you. I’m sick of this crap, period.”
2003 saw him demand a trade and deal with injury issues (possibly connected, but no way to know) before throwing all his equipment to the fans at the end of the year.
His frustrations were not only palpable, but understandable, and the propensity for other players to essentially make the same sort of demands in the future would only prove that Dillon was spot-on with his feelings about the franchise. Still, while the reputation of someone like Carson Palmer escaped the vocal distaste for the petty owner and his loss-tainted franchise unfazed, Dillon hasn’t exactly managed to do the same. In fact, it may be part of why he isn’t in the Hall of Fame right now despite his stellar production.
Speaking of which, let’s actually discuss why he is No. 1 on this list despite any misgivings or doubt the non-football aspects of his career add to the package.
From the outset of his addition to the team, Dillon was an absolute force in the running game. His first season, he immediately corked off a 1,000 yard campaign (1,129 rushing yards), and did so while hitting double-digit touchdown runs (10). That was the first of six straight 1,000 yard campaigns right out of the gates for Dillon. The scoring runs weren’t always as consistent, but he did reach double-digits a second time and picked up 45 total with the team.
The career totals are unassailable. His 8,061 yards on the ground are far and away the best mark for any Cincinnati running back (No. 2 on this list James Brooks was 1,500+ away from that, with 6,447). His per-game average (75.3) beats out every other runner the franchise has suited up, and is one of just three players to eclipse 70 yards per game (Cedric Benson, Rudi Johnson).
Those 45 rushing touchdown runs rank third in team history. He leads the way in terms of total carries (1,865 — 400+ more than the next-closest Bengal), and matches that with a fumble rate (93.3 carries per fumble) which is third among Cincinnati runners with at least 700 career rushing attempts.
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If you want to pick a season which best exemplifies Dillon’s time with the team, it would be 2000. He had his best rushing total as a Bengal (1,435 yards), averaged 4.6 yards per carry, and added in a decent amount of touchdown scores (7). Still, despite his excellent efforts, his team found itself ending the year at 4-12 while he got absolutely no help from any other aspect of the franchise.
With that sort of outcome happening not just once, but acting as the only outcome for the better part of a decade of his professional football life, it is no wonder Dillon’s Cincinnati years ended with him as embittered has he was. Regardless of the way things eventually ended though, his dominance as a runner should not be overlooked. With that in mind, accepting him as the only true option for #1 on this list is the only rational option.