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June 15, 2006

Dillon UNCUT

On 2005:

It is what it is, it was what it was. I dealt with injury the whole year. But that's last year. I'm healthy. I'm ready.

OFFSEASON

This is the best I've felt at this point in time in the past three years. I feel good about where I'm at. I'm still not close to where I want to be and hopefullu by training camp, I'll be ready to go.

ON BELICHICK CALLING HIM BEFORE DRAFTING MARONEY

He didn't have to. I think Bill's a good...a very, very great coach. I think out of respect he just wanted to give me the heads up. And that's what he did. We talked about golf. Any great coach would do that. Give his player a call and let him know the situation. I wasn't in the war room, I didn't know what was going on.

ON HELPING SHOW MARONEY THE ROPES

Why not? What kind of person would I be...I have all this knowledge and experience in this league ....(what kind of person would I be) if I didn't share it? I'd be a (jerk) and I don't want to be a (jerk).

WHAT KIND OF STUDENT IS HE?

A quick one. Great student. He's going to be ok?

DO YOU LIKE TO BE FIGHTING FOR A JOB AT THIS STAGE OF YOUR CAREER?
Fighting for a job? I been in this league 10 years. And it's an honor to be in this league 10 years. There's not too many players who can say, 'Hey, I've been a running back in the National Football League for 10 years. And pretty damn good. You guys want to bring up age, OK, 31. Though I'd appreciate it if you guys ain't gonna give me a gift, don't bring it up. Ain't too many people have been where (I've gone). I'm proud about it. It's an honor and a privilege.

WAS LAST YEAR PURELY INJURY
Well, due to the fact I was limping for a month and a half, I don't know.

DO YOU STILL HAVE PASSION FOR THIS GAME
I do. Or I wouldn't be here. I'm a straight-shooter. When I'm done, I'll let you know. I will be out of here.

WHEN WAS THE INJURY
I might get in trouble. We got a meeting at 1:15 and I don't want to hear about last year but it was sometime in October. That's the last I'll talk about last year. It wasn't good.

DO YOU FEEL THE MEDIA WAS UNFAIR TO YOU LAST YEAR?
They're unfair now. I feel real disrespected. I feel I have accomplished zero. Not even a grain of salt in this league. And that's terrible for a guy of my status. To be crossed up with...hey, I don't care. I sleep real good at night. I know who I am. Maybe other people can't gauge who I am.

WHY DOES ONE GUY GET PUT ON A PEDESTAL AND ANOTHER DOESN'T
I don't know. I don't get it. It's been this way since '97 since I started. I don't expect nothing different. I don't expect no love story from somebody, no family bio. I don't care about that. I've been dealing with it for 10 years.

DO YOU THINK YOU'RE MISUNDERSTOOD
What's not to understand about me. I come to work. I do what needs to be done and I go home.

DO YOU FEEL YOU'VE BEEN TREATED MORE HARSHLY HERE THAN IN CINCY
The way it's coming now, I don't know. Y'all are running neck and neck.

DID YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT THIS OFFSEASON?
I switched it up a little bit. I'm getting a little bit up there so I'll switch it up and do some different things.

ARE YOU DOING MORE FLEXIBILITY?
If I give you that information, I gotta whack you. That's top secret stuff. I switched it up a little bit and this is the best I've felt in a couple eyears.

WAS LAST YEAR ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING?
No. I think the last one in Cincinnati takes the cake. Last season wasn't good but it was bearable. I didn't like it though.

EVALUATE MARONEY
A nice young talent. He's gonna be ok. He'll be ok in years to come. He's gonna do big things for us.

DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE TO BRING HIM ALONG?
Hey. I got two daughters. That's enough teaching. I'll share what I know. If he has any questions, he can ask me. We have a good relationship and it ain't what people are making it out to be.

HOW MANY MORE YEARS OF PRO FOOTBALL WILL YOU PLAY
If you see me, you'll know I'm here. If not, you'll know I called it a day.

WILL YOU NEED TO BE TOLD WHEN IT'S OVER?
Nobody's going to need to tell me nothing. I'll walk away on my own.

DID YOU FEEL BADLY FOR THE WAY EMMITT SMITH'S CAREER ENDED IN AZ.
Man, he's a competitor. He felt in his heart, mind and body he could get it done. All you can do is tip your hat to that guy.

IS IT EASIER FOR YOU TO GET UP KNOWING YOU'RE ON A GOOD TEAM?

Why not? We're the Patriots. Long as I got Tom Brady, I'll be ok. I'm always energized and ready to go.

YOU SEEM PRETTY HAPPY RIGHT NOW.

What do I have to be down about?

DID YOU WANT TO COME IN A LITTLE HEAVIER THIS YEAR?
I want to come in about 270. And work my way down from there. Build up some strength. I'll be pretty quick at 270. Naah, I'll come to training camp where I need to be at 230.

SO THIS IS THE TIME YOU RATCHET IT UP, NOT MINI-CAMP.
C'mon man. We're talking about mini-camp. Mini-camp.

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