Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are a National Football League team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals began play in the American Football League as a 1968 expansion team, and joined the NFL as part of the AFL-NFL Merger.

Players of note

Current roster

Pro Football Hall of Famers

• Anthony Muñoz, Mutliple Pro-Bowl offensive tackle from 1980 - 1992
• Paul Brown, Innovative head coach and owner. Mostly enshrined due to career with the Cleveland Browns.

Retired numbers

54 Bob Johnson Offensive lineman, 1st ever draft pick of the Bengals.

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Not to be forgotten

• Ken Anderson Quarterback, particularly noted for his high-effeciency in passing holding a handful of NFL records. Returned as QB position coach and was offensive coordinator.
• Greg Cook Record setting rookie quarterback whose career was cut short by a devastating shoulder injury the following spring. He would return three years later for one game.
• Paul Robinson Running back, Rookie of the year, 1968 (expansion year).
• Roger Baggett Linebacker, spent two years ('79-'81) as a heavy-hitting "walk-on" linebacker from Chicago.
• Bob Trumpy Outspoken former Bengals tight end in their early years who now does commentary.
• Dave Lapham A mutli-position offensive lineman who now does commentary for the team's radio broadcasts.
• Pat Mcinally Wide receiver and punter. Harvard educated, McInally is the only known player to attain a perfect score (50 points) on an NFL intelligence test.
• Bruce Coslet Played TE for the Bengals. Returned as offensive coordinator under Sam Wyche, left the team for a head coaching position with the New York Jets, to return to Cincinnati as head coach from 1996-2000, going 21-39 (53.8% wins).

From 1986 - 1990: Second Super Bowl era

• Sam Wyche Played backup QB for the Bengals and returned as head coach in the high-powered offense era of the late 80s and early 90s.
• Ickey Woods Fullback who balanced well with his halfback counterpart, James Brooks, to provide balance in the high potency offense. He invented the aforementioned "Ickey Shuffle".
• Tim Krumrie Pro-Bowl caliber nose tackle who lead the team in tackles and returned as DL position coach until 2002. Known primarily for a gruesome broken leg suffered in Super Bowl XXIII.
• David Fulcher Multiple Pro-Bowl hard-hitting, linebacker-sized strong safety who now owns several sports shops in the Cincinnati area.
• Cris Collinsworth Tall, lanky, affable wide receiver and three-time Pro Bowler. His initial foray into broadcasting was substituting for former Bengals tight end Bob Trumpy on Trumpy's WLW radio show. Has done commentary for HBO, NBC, and Fox Sports.
• Boomer Esiason Quarterback, noted for his play-action abilities, being left-handed, and charisma. Although he played for different teams at the end of his career, he returned to Cincinnati for his final season and his last professional play was a play-action pass to Darnay Scott that went 77 yards for a touchdown. Currently does national broadcasting on the NFL

From 1992 - 2003: The Losingest Decade

• Dave Shula Head coach from 1992 - midseason of 1996, went 19-71 in 4½ seasons came in second worst winning percentage at 26.77%. He is often cited as the coach that ushered in 14 years straight of non-winning seasons.
• Dick Lebeau Head coach (after being interim since game 4 in 2000) exceeded Dave Shula for the worst winning percentage for the Bengals winning 12 games of 45 which he coached (26.67%). He coached at the end of "The Bad Years" before Marvin Lewis was hired. He lead the club to a franchise worst 2-14 record in 2002.
• Corey Dillon Controversial but highly talented running back, left the Bengals prior to the 2004 campaign and won the Superbowl with the New England Patriots. Left the Bengals with insulting statements which many Bengals' fans reacted to with anger.
• Takeo Spikes Left Cincinnati for the Buffalo Bills after Marvin Lewis coached him for one year citing the desire to play for a contending team that subsequently went 15-17 the last two seasons missing the playoffs as narrowly as the Bengals while they went 16-16.
• Carl Pickens Receiver, noted for big-play ability and holds several team records but controversial and was cut citing personality conflicts.
• Jeff Blake The only quarterback to lead the team to a non-losing record (8-8) during the string of bad seasons. He was famous for his short stature and his "moon ball" (nicknamed such for it's high arch) which was a very successful play to Carl Pickens (and Darnay Scott) for many huge plays.
• Eric Ball Starting lead-blocking FB for the Bengals, currently with organization as a player representative