Corey Dillon just wants what’s his.
The longtime star NFL running back spoke out about being continually passed over in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Bengals Ring of Honor voting processes.
“I want it all. I am coming for it all,” Dillon told The Athletic. “You know why? Because I earned it. I’m not one of these borderline guys sitting on my ass reminiscing, talking about, ‘Oh, if I had this, shoulda, coulda, woulda.’
“No. I’m justified. Why not? What it does, it breaks down to what I thought initially — which I hope it’s not true — I think they are mad at me for being vocal and going on to win a championship. That’s the only thing I can think of.”
The former Bengals and Patriots star is one of 10 Super Bowl-era running backs who averaged at least 4.3 yards per carry, 70 yards per game and 10,000 career rushing yards.
Dillon and Fred Taylor are the only two who aren’t already enshrined in Canton or considered shoo-ins to make it.
“It’s damn-near criminal, what (Bengals Ring of Honor voters) are pulling off, to be honest with you,” he said. “Did I not play for them? I don’t know, bro. I’m curious about that. Because it looks like they are glossing over me. For what reason? Because I left? That’s not a good enough reason.
“You are telling me there’s five other guys better than me — at my position? And trust me, this is no knock on whoever is getting in, who goes in, that’s not what it is about. It’s about what is your excuse going to be?
Dillon’s tenure in Cincinnati ended with a trade to New England in 2004 — after three Pro Bowl trips and a domestic violence arrest in 2000 — factors he believe are being held against him.
“This ain’t a popularity contest,” he said. “This is football. You are going to put in somebody who is more popular than somebody who got stats?”
He went on to win a Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2005 — and was named to the franchise’s All-Dynasty and All-2000s teams.
His beef isn’t just with the fans and voters, though.
“Bengals are smart,” Dillon said. “I give it to them. We will put it in the hands of the season ticket holders, so they don’t have to take that backlash over who the voters are picking.
“That’s bulls–t. The s–t should come straight from the team. Half these season ticket holder people never seen half of us play.”