Willie Anderson comments on Andre Smith negotiations; Bengals need a Ring of Fame to honor Bengals greats

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 10, 2009 11:25 PM EDT in Analysis

If there's a single player that I miss the most that used to play for the Cincinnati Bengals, it's Willie Anderson. He was perhaps the most underrated offensive tackle in the NFL until late in his Bengals career. A Three-time First Team All-Pro, a Four-time Pro Bowler and a leader in the clubhouse, Anderson was the only guy that would say shut up, and Chad Ochocinco Johnson shut up. When he joined the Ravens, and Baltimore made it to the AFC Championship game, I found myself pulling for the Ravens simply so Anderson can get his day in the sun.

Since he retired, Anderson decided to get into this Twittering thingy. On Monday, Willie tweeted on the Andre Smith negotiations:

That Andre Smith situation may get ugly. I negotiated 3 contracts with Bengals. Their tough!

(Note: I didn't correct Willie's word usage of "their" because not even Chuck Norris corrects Willie)

This got me thinking (I know. Mind blowing. It happens). The Bengals need to create a Ring of Honor, or a Ring of Fame, honoring their best players throughout the history of the franchise. The Bengals website has the Virtual Hall of Fame, but that's not the same. That's a fan vote. And you won't see the winner's jersey numbers, or names spread across the Paul Brown Stadium in any official Fame or Honor tribute based on that vote. The Bengals should have something like the Reds Hall of Fame. Or the Bronco's version of the Ring of Fame.

We have the players to put in there. Like Tim Krumrie, Boomer Esiason, Ken Riley, Kenny Anderson, Anthony Munoz. What about Corey Dillon, Rudi Johnson (he set several franchise records), James Brooks, Pete Johnson, Isaac Curtis, Carl Pickens, Jim Breech, Louis Breeden and David Fulcher. Guys like Carson Palmer, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Ochocinco Johnson would be future inductions. We could add more; point is that we have people a pool of players to put in there.

And if the Bengals had a Ring of Fame, or ever decide to implement one, Willie Anderson should be in it.

I believe that you could point many failures on Bengals president Mike Brown. I believe that not honoring older players that made their mark with this franchise (as well as not reaching out to fans in some off-season festival, ala Reds Fest) is another.

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Ring of Fame/Honor

Why wouldnt they have one? i Googled ring of honor, and the Rams, Bills, Bucs, Broncos, Cowboys, Seahawks, Cardinals, Redskins, and im sure others, all have a Ring of some sort. I would really like to see how many teams have it.

"Ghiaciuc's play was a distraction"

by Joe Goodberry on Aug 11, 2009 12:13 AM EDT reply actions

I've wondered about this for years...

people rag on the Bengals but fail to realize that this team has some real tradition – two Super Bowls, a litany of good players.

Moreover, I was watching the HOF induction and trying to think of who is going to be the next Bengal to go in? Willie Anderson? Ken Riley? Ken Anderson? Corey Dillon? or are we going to have to wait until this generation of players is done? Since the HOF is really stacked against good players on bad teams, I’m really at a loss.

"Ryan, Things in here don't react too well to bullets." - Marko Ramius

by TarZander on Aug 11, 2009 8:32 AM EDT reply actions

I dont think we have any hall of famers

either of the past or present

Carson can become one, but he’ll need some playoff victories under his belt.

by nadfflictar on Aug 11, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Anthony Muñoz.

by TheWalrus1971 on Aug 11, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

i think he meant players that arent already in

"Ghiaciuc's play was a distraction"

by Joe Goodberry on Aug 11, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh.

Well, then we’ve had this conversation over and over…Anderson, Esiason, Riley, etc. etc. Truly, there are a handful that should be in, but TZ is right…the HOF is stacked against good players on bad teams — a lot of the consideration comes from how much you helped your team win a championship, and…well…

by TheWalrus1971 on Aug 11, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

That Ring of Fame idea is an awesome one

I can name at least 15 players who’s careers would qualify them……maybe call it the Jungle Room??….lol

Remember, we're having fun now!!!

by ALLBLUCAT on Aug 11, 2009 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

Good topic...

…and Yes, Willie Anderson deserves far more recognition for his play AND his leadership than what he received.

Football is tough for career recognition because the eras change much more rapidly as the rules and other factors change. Kenny Anderson was a borderline HOF’er as his career ended, now it seems laughable when you look at his numbers if you never saw him play the game— and there was no DirecTV in his prime!

I think the Bengals are best served by BOTH a Ring of Honor AND a franchise Hall of Fame. To use the Reds as an example again, Eric Davis is a Reds HOF’er, but he doesn’t get his jersey retired and hung on the outfield fence. Likewise, Dan Ross is a Bengals HOF’er, but he doesn’t merit Ring of Honor display in the stadium. Anthony Munoz deserves both. Too complicated?

"Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!"

by "Red" Moskau on Aug 11, 2009 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

A few comments

1. No Hall of Famer’s? If nadflucattor is forgetting Munoz; okay. If he thinks no other Bengals should be in? — He’s a Steeler fan hiding out in the Jungle. I won’t list the Bengals that are being BANNED from Canton…True Who Deyer’s know who they are.
2. The Ring thing is something Paul Brown actually never bought into. He always thought of team and not individs. But, to honor some of the greats…Mike named like 6 or 7 suites at PBS after some of the legends. From what I know (or at least think I know!)…the following people have suites named after them. Issac Curits, Cris Collinsworth, Ken Riley, Boomer, and there may be a couple others: Montoya? Anderson?
3. As far as honors; the only honor is that they retired Bob Johnson’s Jersey: 54. For you youngsters…he was our center for the first ten years and the first player Paul drafted.
4. We should make a public demonsatration next year at Canton…maybe a sit in and chain a bunch of us to the steps of the hall DEMANDING they put either Kenny, Issac or The Rattler in…

by roy1elvis on Aug 11, 2009 10:21 PM EDT reply actions