Corey Dillon (born October 24, 1974 in Seattle) is a running back on the New England Patriots. He was acquired from the Cincinnati Bengals in a trade in which the Bengals received a second-round draft pick. He wears the number 28.
Dillon was originally drafted by Cincinnati in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft out of the University of Washington. He may have gone as a higher pick if not for a bad reputation based on several arrests he received while living in Seattle.
For years Dillon was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise terrible Bengals team. From 1997 to 2002 he rushed for over 1000 yards each year. He also set a record for most yards rushed in one game (279 yards) against the Denver Broncos, but that record has since been broken by Jamal Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens who rushed for 295 yards one game.
In 2003, Dillon only rushed for 541 yards, mainly because of injury, but also he was unhappy with the new regime taking over in Cincinnati. He requested to be traded at the end of the season, much to the delight of the Bengals fans, who felt he had become a selfish player and considered him a "cancer" to the team.
Originally, he appeared to be headed for the Oakland Raiders, but the Raiders were unwilling to sacrifice a second round pick for the aging RB. Since the Patriots were looking to upgrade from RB Antowain Smith, who was less than stellar during the 2003 Super Bowl season, and because they had extra picks, head coach Bill Belichick was willing to give the maligned star a second chance on a team with a proven track record.
In the 2004 season, Dillon had proven himself to be a mature and dedicated team player in true Patriots style, completely putting to rest whatever negative reputation he may have acquired before arriving in New England. What's more, with the Pats, his already stellar level of play increased dramatically, allowing him to post his best-ever year in terms of rushing yards with 1635, setting a franchise record in the process. It culminated in a third Superbowl win for New England, in no small part because of the new running game built around Dillon.
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