Ben Child, ESPN Personnel Essayist
CINCINNATI — Former Bengals operating again Corey Dillon is flipping crazy concerning the franchise’s ring of honor variety procedure.
The Bengals’ all-time eminent rusher — who as soon as famously stated he’d “flip burgers” throughout a pledge dispute with the membership — took pictures at how the group honors its former gamers. In an interview with The Athletic published Thursday, Dillon didn’t conserve again as he took umbrage with the method that includes votes from season-ticket holders and suite holders. He stated it was once “garbage” and the choice will have to be achieved immediately via the entrance administrative center or a different committee.
“This ain’t a popularity contest,” Dillon informed the opening. “This is football. You are going to put in somebody who is more popular than somebody who got stats?
“Bengals are impish. I give it to them. We will be able to put it within the arms of the season-ticket holders, so that they don’t need to hurry that backlash over who the electorate are choosing. That’s bulls—. The s— will have to come immediately from the group. Part those season-ticket holder folk by no means unhidden part folks play games.”
Dillon, a second-round pick in the 1997 draft, played for the Bengals for seven seasons. During that span he made three Pro Bowls and rushed for at least 1,000 yards in all but his final season with the club, which was the franchise’s first year under coach Marvin Lewis.
The team ended up trading the disgruntled Dillon to the New England Patriots for a second-round select.
“I supposition Cincinnati were given precisely what they sought after,” he said in an ESPN report from 2004. “Corey Dillon were given precisely what he sought after. I’m glad. It’s a excellent offer throughout, I believe.”
The move also ended a rocky tenure in Cincinnati that included an arrest for domestic violence in 2000. News reports indicated that Dillon entered pretrial diversion in exchange for the case to be dropped. In his first season with the Patriots, he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark again, was named to the Pro Bowl and helped New England win Super Bowl XXXIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, with Dillon scoring a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Dillon told The Athletic his trade to New England shouldn’t exclude him from the ring of honor and said his omission is “damn-near felony.”
The bulk of his 10-year NFL career was spent with the Bengals. His 8,061 rushing yards and 1,865 attempts lead the franchise in both categories by a wide margin, which is primarily why he believes he should be in Cincinnati’s ring of honor. The franchise did not institute the honor until 2021, when it was spearheaded by team executive Elizabeth Blackburn, granddaughter of team president Mike Brown.
The Bengals have six members recognized in the group — 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 franchise’s only players with a gold jacket. Anderson was a finalist in 2022 and was named to the franchise’s ring of honor last year.
In his recent interview, Dillon said he didn’t believe he would be recognized by his former club any time soon.
“I’m nice-looking certain they’ll put f—ing Jon Kitna in there earlier than they put me,” Dillon told The Athletic. “Subject of reality, Scott Mitchell will finally end up in that m—–f—er earlier than I do.”
