With the Bengals Ring of Honor voting opening Wednesday, we offer a ballot refresher course. Complete with analysis from one of the 11 candidates himself, long-time Bengals radio voice Dave Lapham who made these takes when the ballot was released in 2021. He played with six of the candidates and covered four.
K JIM BREECH (1980-92)
Only 1,000-point scorer in Bengals history … Kicked in their first two Super Bowls … Third-leading scorer in the NFL in 1981 to help get them to the first one … Overtime winner on last snap of 1988 regular season gave them home-field advantage on way to the second one, where his 40-yarder with 3:20 left gave them 16-13 lead … For nearly 30 years was only kicker with two 40-yarders in a Super Bowl … 9-for-9 in OT …
THE NUMBER: With 875, he is the NFL’s fifth- leading scorer in the 1980s behind Nick Lowery, Eddie Murray, Pat Leahy, Chris Bahr. (Pro Football Reference).
LAP’s TAKE: “It seemed like the more important the kick, he rose to the occasion, whether it be overtime or playoffs or Super Bowls. I thought he was going to be MVP of Super Bowl XXIII. I voted for him.”
RB JAMES BROOKS (1984-91)
Joe Mixon couldn’t quite catch him last season and missed him by 35 yards … With 6,447, Brooks still Bengals second all-time leading rusher … Think Marshall Faulk before Marshall Faulk … A devastating two-way player who made head coach Sam Wyche’s no-huddle offense a matchup nightmare … Four-time Pro Bowler … Three-time 1,000-yard rusher … Four 40-catch seasons …
THE NUMBER: During eight seasons with Bengals, Brooks had more yards from scrimmage than any other NFL running back except Eric Dickerson, Roger Craig, and Marcus Allen. (Pro Football Reference).
LAP’s TAKE: “Pound for pound maybe as physical a guy they’ve had on the team. He was not afraid to run people over. That was the thing about JB. People would look at his body type (5-10, 180 pounds) and think he’s one of these guys that try to give a million moves out in space. A scat back, right? Are you kidding me? He’d lower his pads and run your butt over. That allowed him to do the other stuff. He was complete.”
WR CRIS COLLINSWORTH (1981-88)
Before Bengals rookie greats A.J. Green and Ja’Marr Chase were born, became franchise’s first 1,000-yard receiver in rookie year … Played in club’s first two Super Bowls … Three Pro Bowls … four 1,000-yard seasons … Dwarfed his career with 16 Emmys as one of the NFL’s greatest analysts ever … He’ll call Bengals-Giants Sunday night game in New York Oct. 13 …
THE NUMBER: His last career catch converted a third-and-eight on the drive the Bengals took a 6-3 lead midway through the third quarter in Super Bowl XXIII.
LAP’s TAKE: “The thing I respect most about him, though, usually guys like that don’t want to go across the middle and make the catch. He was big-time tough. I mean big-time tough. He’d take shots and hold on to the ball. He’d surprise you in the weight room how strong he was. A different breed of cat. What’s hard to compare is a receiver that had the kind of toughness is usually a third-down possession receiver that’s going to run a 12-yard hook. Take a shot and leave the field and wouldn’t be able to do anything else. He could do both. A unique player.”
RB COREY DILLON (1997-2003)
Club’s all-time leading rusher with 8,061 yards in just seven seasons … Six 1,000-yard seasons in first six seasons, including 1,435 in 2000 when he averaged 4.6 yards per rush and his passers didn’t average five yards per pass … Author of two of NFL’s greatest rushing days ever … Broke Walter Payton’s single-game rushing record in 2000 … Broke Jim Brown’s single-game rookie record in 1997 …
THE NUMBER: Dillon is one of six running backs post-1967 with at least four seasons of 1,100 yards rushing and 4.6 yards a carry. Only Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist Fred Taylor and Hall-of-Famer Barry Sanders have more with seven each.
LAP’s TAKE: “Unbelievable combination of size and speed and physicality. He hurt you when you had to tackle him. Very rarely in the National Football League do you see guys flinching when they’re going in to hit certain players. I remember seeing many different players flinch when they went to hit Corey Dillon.”
S DAVID FULCHER (1986-92)
One of the NFL’s most versatile defenders of his era … A cutting edge 235-pound chess piece … Hit like a linebacker and roamed centerfield like the three-time Pro Bowl safety he was … When Bengals defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau came up with his game-changing zone-blitz scheme, the signature call was “Fulcher 2 Stay.” …
THE NUMBER: During his eight seasons in Cincinnati, Fulcher’s 31 interceptions were third most by an NFL safety behind only Ronnie Lott’s 34 and Joey Browner’s 32. (Pro Football Reference). According to Bengals’ tackling stats, he’s the only safety with at least 634 combined tackles and 30 interceptions in the league during that stretch.
LAP’s TAKE: “He was famously carrying more weight than defensive lineman Jim Skow for the Super Bowl. To have that kind of size and to be able to do the things he did … Hell of a blitzer and he’s got the most interceptions by a Bengals safety and there have been quite a few good safeties here. He was a takeaway machine. Interceptions. Sacks. Fumble recoveries. He was one of those guys who was a play waiting to happen.”
NT TIM KRUMRIE (1983-94)
“The Cowboy,” is one of most inspiring players in Bengals history … Tenth-round pick who immediately became top interior player in league … Stunning sideline-to-sideline production earned back-to-back Pro Bowl berths … Never missed a non-strike game … Didn’t miss a game in final five seasons of career after gruesome broken leg early in Super Bowl XXIII … 188 games most by a Bengals lineman on either side of the ball …
THE NUMBER: His 1,017 career tackles are the most ever by an NFL defensive tackle. His 659 tackles are the seventh most in the 1980s, making Krumrie the only defensive lineman in the 600-club. (Pro Football Reference).
LAP’s TAKE: “I knew he was a great player, but I was sold when he went against Miami’s Dwight Stephenson. He was having a great year and here we go. I think he’s one of the best centers in the league and I think Krumrie’s the best guy over the center. Krumrie kicked his butt. I’m like, boy, that confirms it for me. Dwight Stephenson, Hall of Fame, perennial Pro Bowler, Krumrie handled him, man.”
G DAVE LAPHAM (1974-83)
Mr. Bengal … Most versatile offensive lineman in club history before becoming a radio booth staple at Riverfront Stadium and Paycor Stadium … Starting right guard on Paul Brown’s best and last team in 1975 … Starting left guard on first Super Bowl team in 1981 … played all five line positions during two of his 140 games …As a player or announcer has been associated with all three of club’s Super Bowls …
THE NUMBER: For 48 of the last 50 years, Lapham has been with the Bengals as he heads into his 39th season behind the mike.
OUR TAKE: “The quick, analytical mind that allowed him to move up and down the line at will has translated so well to radio that his voice has become as familiar as an uncle’s to generations of Bengals fans. His quick wit, keen football acumen, and bubbly love of the game and all things Bengals have made him the conscience of Who Dey Nation.”
RG MAX MONTOYA (1979-89)
Greatest guard in Bengals history … One of the best right guards in the game during two Super Bowl runs … Three-time Pro Bowler … Anchored NFL’s second-ranked offense that went to Super Bowl XVI … His O-Line paved the way for next Super Bowl when Bengals’ running game kept ball for 39 minutes in 1988 AFC title game win over Buffalo ….
THE NUMBER: With Montoya at the point, the Bengals offense finished in the top five eight times.
LAP’s TAKE: “Maxie could pull and block in the running game as well as anybody in the National Football League. He could cut block big people, smaller people. It didn’t matter. He was as good a cut blocker as I think I have ever seen. He was an incredible pass protector. He had seasons it seemed he shut down everybody. Quiet, but intense competitive fire.”
CB LEMAR PARRISH (1970-77)
One of the most electrifying Bengals of all-time … In eight seasons here he returned for a touchdown four interceptions, four punts, three fumbles, and a kickoff … His 47 interceptions from 1970-82 are second only to 53 of Bengals teammate Ken Riley and Steelers’ Mel Blount in those 13 seasons, both Hall-of-Famers …
THE NUMBER: Parrish is one of six cornerbacks with at least eight Pro Bowls and the only one not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
LAP’S TAKE: “From the ability to excite teammates, fans, and discourage opponents with a big-play ability, he might be as good as I’ve ever seen. That dude, man, he was electric. Electric with capital letters. Freaky athlete. He had some long arms. His change of direction, his burst was just unbelievable as a return guy.”
TE BOB TRUMPY (1968-77)
Giant on field and in front of camera … A 12th-round pick who became a key instrument as the Bengals braintrust of Paul Brown and Bill Walsh evolved the modern pass game … His 22.6 yards per catch in 1969 is second longest for NFL tight end in a season and second longest of any receiver in franchise history … Only Bengal to be named to multiple Pro Bowls in both AFL and NFL … Went to Pro Football Hall of Fame as 2014 recipient of the Pete Rozelle Radio & Television Award … called four Super Bowls, four Pro Bowls, and six Hall-of-Fame Games …
THE NUMBER: From 1968-73, he caught 216 passes for an average of 15.8 yards per catch, second best among NFL tight ends for those six seasons. (Pro Football Reference).
LAP’s TAKE: “It was a nightmare trying to match up with Bob Trumpy because he could run like a wide receiver with a big body of big old square shoulders. Tall, strong body. Shoot, he averaged over 20 yards a catch one season as a tight end. That’s crazy. He made plays on the triple pass double reverse on the ball down the field. He would kill people with that. He was too fast for linebackers, too big for defensive backs. He was a big-play guy.”
LB REGGIE WILLIAMS (1976-89)
Hiz Honor is most productive linebacker in franchise history … Most games (206), most sacks (62.5), most interceptions (16) … Led Bengals defense to Super Bowl XVI with team-high 11 sacks and second most tackles with 106 … Seven years later in Super Bowl XXIII had a team-high 10 tackles and a sack … NFL Man of the Year in 1986 … One of Sports Illustrated’s Co-Sportsmen of the Year in 1987 … Appointed to Cincinnati City Council during 1988 Super Bowl run …
THE NUMBER: With 54 sacks (Pro Football Reference) and 788 tackles (Bengals), Williams and Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Rickey Jackson are only linebackers in the 1980s with 50 sacks and 700 tackles.
LAP’S TAKE: “Extremely intelligent, obviously. Extremely athletic. He could do a lot of different things. He was a workout freak. Combination of size, speed, agility. Gifted athlete at the weak side, outside linebacker position and he blossomed under the Doctor of Defense’s (Hank Bullough) imagination using him in different ways. They talk today about importance of versatility and Reggie had all of that, for sure.”
