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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2009 > June > 30 > Entry
Bengals’ Anderson, Riley belong in Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton
CANTON SHOULD CALL
PAIR OF QUIET ‘KENS’
===LUDWIG AT LARGE alert: Ken Anderson was much better than Steelers’ Terry Bradshaw; and Ken Riley’s 65 interceptions (5th all-time) must not be ignored.===
I’m often asked …
Of all the players in the Cincinnati Bengals’ 41-year history — the club enters its 42nd season in 2009 — who are the most deserving of induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
I give you my “Fab Four” in order:
Number One: Quarterback Ken Anderson.
Number Two: Cornerback Ken Riley.
Number Three: Cornerback Lemar Parrish.
Number Four: Wide receiver Isaac Curtis.
There are a handful of others who deserve consideration. They are tailback Corey Dillon, quarterback Boomer Esiason, offensive guard Max Montoya, strong safety David Fulcher and — five years after he retires — Chad Johnson.
Clearly, the “Kens” — Anderson and Riley — are at the top of my list.
Anderson leads all Bengals in terms of playing service at 16 years (1971-86). He earned four Pro Bowls and was the 1981 league MVP. What separates Anderson from so many others was his accuracy, durability and consistent excellence.
In a word, he was brilliant. Anderson led Cincinnati to its first Super Bowl appearance (1981 season) by dominating Hall of Famer Dan Fouts and the San Diego Chargers in the Freezer Bowl. Kenny should be in the Hall.
Riley, also known as “The Rattler,” starred for 15 seasons with the Bengals (1969-83) and ranks fifth on the list of NFL All-Time Interception Leaders with 65 career picks.
The four players ahead of him — Paul Krause (81), Emlen Tunnell (79), Rod Woodson (71) and Dick “Night Train” Lane (68) — are in the Hall of Fame.
Even though he was never voted to one Pro Bowl — a sad and disgusting statistic — Riley belongs in Canton, too.
For more on Ken Riley, go to:
http://www.polkmoms.com/article/20080907/NEWS/809070385/0/MISC
Here’s the NFL Network’s list of Top 10 players not in the Hall of Fame:
Permalink | Comments (17) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By walt
June 30, 2009 10:31 PM | Link to this
Chickie, Are you old enough to remember the mess Anderson made of the Seattle game in 1981? It very nearly cost him his starting job; only Gregg wanted him the following week.By walt
June 30, 2009 10:32 PM | Link to this
Chickie, Are you old enough to remember the mess Anderson made of the Seattle game in 1981? It very nearly cost him his starting job; only Gregg wanted him the following week.By TouchDownTroy
June 30, 2009 11:36 PM | Link to this
Ken Anderson, and Ken Riley should be in the Hall Of Fame. No doubt in my mind. Walt you need to look at the good things Ken Anderson did. MVP 1981.By Kle
July 1, 2009 4:20 AM | Link to this
Chicketser, you are sooooo right. All four- Ken A, Ken R Issac C and Lamar P deserve to be in the hall.By MrDadSir
July 1, 2009 6:07 AM | Link to this
Mr.C you absolutely spot on with these four men.Anderson will probably make it now because of the Steelers.I can’t believe Curtis,Riley and Breedon are not in.By MrDadSir
July 1, 2009 6:13 AM | Link to this
A senior moment my mind said Parish but my fingers typed Breedon.By joepetro66
July 1, 2009 7:18 AM | Link to this
Yeah, my neighbor went to a bunch of Bengals’ games in the ’80s; he should be in The Hall too. And the janitor at Riverfront from 1970-80, don’t forget him. Anderson, Riley?! Give me a break.By joepetro66
July 1, 2009 7:21 AM | Link to this
Yeah, my neighbor went to a bunch of Bengals’ games in the ’80s; he should be in The Hall too. And the janitor at Riverfront from 1970-80, don’t forget him. Anderson, Riley?! Give me a break.By Jason
July 1, 2009 8:07 AM | Link to this
Hey walt, Gregg was right, wasn’t he? Kenny won the MVP that year.By JMo
July 1, 2009 2:20 PM | Link to this
JoePetro66….Why shouldn’t they be in the hall? Sarcastic remarks should be backed. Riley has 65 career picks (5th all time) starting 15 years for the same team? Anderson led the league in passing 4 times, nfl mvp, super bowl appearance. Fouts couldn’t hold Anderson’s jock on his best day. Cases can be made for Curtis and Parrish as well. Hell Boomer was every bit the qb Jim Kelly was too. All deserve deep consideration while the Ken’s are criminally left out. You know maybe Chad has it right. Make a scene of yourself to get noticed. Maybe the Rattler would be in the hall if he had an inkling of Chad’s moronic behavior.By Andy
July 1, 2009 2:52 PM | Link to this
I would also suggest that one more who should get in after he is done is Willie Anderson.By Bob
July 1, 2009 3:28 PM | Link to this
I agree with what most are syaing here as far a a list of nominees. OMG dont put breeden in that category. I have seen him burned deep so many times it is ridiculous. Anderson for sure took a average squad and went up against maybe the strongest squad of players in Pittsburg that football has ever seen in the steel curtain defense. Not only passing but running the football he definitely belongs. Just ask the players he played against. He was the #1 threat to take overa game single handedly if he had too.By Rob
July 2, 2009 3:43 PM | Link to this
I have to agree with Chick. Isaac Curtis especially should be considered. As is currently being pointed out at Bengals.com, Curtis caused rule changes. He was unstoppable. If fact, the only thing that ever stopped Isaac was the seam in the turf at Riverfront that shredded his knee. Still, in 1981, with Dan Ross and Cris Collinsworth, most teams chose to double cover Curtis and take their chances with the other two. Collinsworth often tells the story of the game where the defense tried to cover Curtis one-on-one. He said he and Ross were laughing, because Curtis turned them inside out, had a huge day. Sorry, I can’t remember which game it was. I also remember a catch he made running down the right sideline at Riverfront. The ball was on his shoetops, and Curtis reached down with his right hand, pulled the ball in, and kept running without breaking stride. Amazing.By MTK14
July 6, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this
Chick, completely agree.Would also add Dick Lebeau to the list, not so much for his work in Cincy as a player or coach. However, he was an incredible DB in Detroit and quite possibly the best Def Coordinator of all time. Thoughts?By bob
July 21, 2009 3:42 PM | Link to this
anderson,riley,esiason,curtis,and dillon are without a doubt hall of fame material anderson and esiason both have better passer ratigs better than almost half of the hall of fame qbs but just because they didnt win the super bowl they are kept out the hall of fame needs to re-evaluate how the determine who and why someone gets in. if all these guys dont eventually get in it will be a travesityBy bob
July 21, 2009 3:43 PM | Link to this
anderson,riley,esiason,curtis,and dillon are without a doubt hall of fame material anderson and esiason both have better passer ratings than almost half of the hall of fame qbs but just because they didnt win the super bowl they are kept out the hall of fame needs to re-evaluate how the determine who and why someone gets in. if all these guys dont eventually get in it will be a travesityBy Timi Jernigan
July 22, 2009 12:07 AM | Link to this
Chick, has the hall of fame committee ever said why the Rattler never seems to get any consideration despite being 5th all-time in career interceptions? Deserving Bengals don’t get the recognition they deserve because Mike Brown has turned a once proud franchise into a national joke. Until he truly remembers how his father made the Bengals into a respectable franchise, I fear we may not see another player get into the HOF.