As news about the retirement of Corey Dillon permeated conversations around watercoolers across the country, PatriotsInsider.com has learned talk about retirement may be a bit premature. In an unusual turn of events early Friday morning, Scout.com's senior NFL writer Adam Caplan is reporting that Dillon may not be done afterall.
According to Caplan, Dillon's agent, Steve Feldman, claims the Patriots running back isn't ready to call it quits - at least not at the moment. A report in a local Boston paper a day earlier left the impression that Dillon was ready to retire. Not so fast is the word from Dillon's camp said Caplan.
Feldman spoke with the Boston Herald last night, claiming that Dillon wanted to be released by the team to pursue opportunities elsewhere. The report indicated that Dillon not only asked for his release but it will be granted on March 2nd, the start of free agency.
While it's still possible Dillon may retire if he is not provided with the right opportunity by another team, there's a competitive fire that still burns within his 6-foot-1, 225-pound muscle-bound frame that refuses to let him play second-fiddle if a lead role still exists out there. Feldman stated that he believes Dillon can play at a premiere level for another year or two.
After leading the Patriots to another Super Bowl title 2004 with a 1,635-yard regular season, Dillon turned in a pair of sub-1000 yard performances. 2005 was a season marred by injury, but 2006, Dillon appeared in every game performing at a high level. His rushing average improved from a disappointing 3.5ypc in '05 to 4.1 in '06, and he set a career-best scoring mark of 13 touchdowns.
Chances are, when the Patriots let Dillon go, someone will be willing to give him a job. One thing is for certain, there's more of this story still to be told.