For the Cincinnati Bengals inaugural Ring of Honor class, season ticket holders voted for former quarterback Ken Anderson and former cornerback Ken Riley.
When the Cincinnati Bengals announced in April they would create a Ring of Honor in 2021, the franchise included its season ticket holders in the selection process. The team placed Paul Brown and Anthony Muñoz in the inaugural class, and a season ticket holder vote determined the other two spots.
On Thursday, the Bengals revealed that the fans voted for Anderson and Riley to be the other two players in the team’s inaugural Ring of Honor. During the Bengals’ Thursday Night Football game on September 30, Brown, Muñoz, Anderson and Riley will be officially inducted.
More:Paul Daugherty: Bengals' Ring of Honor offers hope
"We have a long history of players, many of them great players. Ken Anderson and Ken Riley are at the top of that list of great players," Bengals owner Mike Brown said in a statement. "They were the type of players that we like to think our team is all about. I am pleased they are the top picks of the fans."
Anderson played in Cincinnati for his entire career, from 1971 to 1986. He won one of the two MVP trophies in Bengals history in his 1981 season. He led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance, and Anderson completed 62.6% of his passes for 3,754 yards.
Anderson was one of five quarterbacks in NFL history to win at least four passing titles, and Anderson has the most passing yards in Bengals history with 32,838.
"The Bengals organization is very special to me, and I'm so proud to be a part of the inaugural class," Anderson said in a statement. "We have a great football tradition. It's one of winning, it's one of playing hard. That goes back to the Paul Brown days. I'm glad that can be recognized. I think back to those days because I think those days are coming again."
Riley has recently picked up support for a Hall of Fame bid, and he ranks fifth in NFL history with 65 interceptions. Riley played for Cincinnati from 1969-1983, and holds the team record for games played.
More:Here is the Cincinnati Bengals schedule for 2021 preseason and training camp
Riley also has the team record for interception return yards and interception returns for touchdowns.
When Riley wasn’t included in the NFL’s “In Memoriam” video in February, 2021, the Bengals released a statement that they were “extremely disappointed” with Riley’s omission. Now, Riley will have permanent recognition at Paul Brown Stadium.
"The Ring of Honor is the Mount Rushmore for the Bengals. It's incredible for my father to be included in the inaugural class," Ken Riley II, Ken Riley's son, said in a statement. "To be recognized by the fans, that makes it even more special. My father would receive so much love every time he came back to Cincinnati, and to have them vote him in makes it that much sweeter."
Season ticket holders voted for Anderson and Riley in a nominee class of 17 former players across Bengals history.
Other nominees on the ballot included Willie Anderson, James Brooks, Isaac Curtis, Corey Dillon, Boomer Esiason, Chad Johnson, Tim Krumrie, Dave Lapham, and Lemar Parrish.
Source link
