The hoopla surrounding Cincinnati Bengals running back Corey Dillon continued Thursday as he donated his uniform and shoes to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Dillon broke the NFL's single-game rushing record Sunday with a 278-yard day against the Denver Broncos. He clipped the old mark of 275 yards set by Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears on Nov. 20, 1977 against the Minnesota Vikings.
Bengals head coach Dick LeBeau presented Dillon with a plaque on behalf of the organization.
After accepting the gift, Dillon presented his No. 28 jersey, pants and cleats from his history-making day to Joe Horrigan, the hall's vice president of communications and exhibits.
Dillon and Horrigan last met in 1997, under similar circumstances. The hall of fame came calling then too, when Dillon broke legendary running back Jim Brown's rookie rushing record for a game with 246 yards.
Despite this being the second time around, Dillon knows the special meaning of the occassions.
"Not too many athletes get the opportunity to get their uniform inducted into the hall of fame," Dillon said. "It's not an everyday thing ... These are the moments I'm going to remember for a lifetime."
Horrigan said that Sunday's jersey will join the rookie one in the museum's "Pro Football Today" exhibit area. It will remain there indefinitely, or at least until the record is broken again.
Dillon hopes that moments like these are building blocks to reach Canton when his playing days are over.
"Hopefully, when my career is said and done, I can be inducted as a player," Dillon said.
Throughout the 1-6 season, there has been a lot of negative focus on the Bengals and its players. Dillon knows that the positive buzz surrounding him is something that his teammates should share. In his mind, they earned it. |
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