Former Bengals Running Back Corey Dillon Criticizes Franchise’s Ring of Honor Selection Process
CINCINNATI — Corey Dillon, the Cincinnati Bengals’ all-time leading rusher, recently expressed his frustration with the team’s ring of honor selection process. In an interview with The Athletic, Dillon criticized the process that involves votes from season-ticket holders and suite holders, calling it “garbage.” He believes that the selection should be made directly by the front office or a special committee.
Dillon, who played for the Bengals for seven seasons, made three Pro Bowls and rushed for over 1,000 yards in all but his final season with the club. Despite his impressive stats and contributions to the team, he doesn’t believe he will be included in the Bengals’ ring of honor anytime soon due to the current selection process.
The former running back expressed his disappointment with the notion that popularity outweighs on-field performance when it comes to honoring former players. He stated, “This ain’t a popularity contest. This is football. You are going to put in somebody who is more popular than somebody who got stats?”
Dillon also criticized the involvement of season-ticket holders in the selection process, claiming that many of them have never even seen him play. He believes that the decision should come directly from the team or a special committee that understands the significance of individual players’ contributions.
The Bengals traded Dillon to the New England Patriots in 2004 after a contract dispute. Despite leaving Cincinnati on less-than-ideal terms, Dillon believes that his trade to New England should not exclude him from being honored by his former team. He expressed his frustration with his omission from the ring of honor, calling it “damn-near criminal.”
Dillon’s tenure in Cincinnati was not without controversy. In 2000, he was arrested for domestic violence, although the case was eventually dropped after he entered pretrial diversion. However, his off-field issues should not overshadow his on-field accomplishments, according to Dillon.
During his 10-year NFL career, the bulk of which was spent with the Bengals, Dillon amassed an impressive 8,061 rushing yards and 1,865 attempts. These numbers far exceed those of any other player in franchise history, making a strong case for his inclusion in the ring of honor.
The Bengals introduced their ring of honor in 2021, spearheaded by team executive Elizabeth Blackburn, granddaughter of team president Mike Brown. Currently, the group includes six members: team founder Paul Brown, quarterback Ken Anderson, cornerback Ken Riley, offensive tackle Anthony Muñoz, wide receiver Isaac Curtis, and offensive tackle Willie Anderson. Riley will be posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, joining Muñoz as the only players from the franchise with a gold jacket. Anderson was named to the franchise’s ring of honor last year after being a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
Dillon expressed his doubts about being recognized by his former club anytime soon, stating that he believes other players like Jon Kitna and Scott Mitchell would be honored before him. However, he remains hopeful that the Bengals will reconsider their selection process and acknowledge his significant contributions to the team.
In conclusion, Corey Dillon, the Bengals’ all-time leading rusher, has criticized the team’s ring of honor selection process. He believes that the decision should be made by the front office or a special committee rather than relying on votes from season-ticket holders. Despite his impressive stats and contributions to the team, Dillon doesn’t believe he will be included in the Bengals’ ring of honor anytime soon. He hopes that the team will recognize his achievements and reconsider their selection process to ensure that deserving players are honored.