Bengals criticized for Ring of Honor invites and travel costs

The Cincinnati Bengals are facing public scrutiny over how they are handling invitations for the upcoming Ring of Honor ceremony, which will honor Dave Lapham and Lemar Parrish during halftime of the October 26 game against the New York Jets at Paycor Stadium. The controversy centers on an invitation that appears to treat Ring of Honor members as attendees who must pay for travel and lodging, rather than fully funding their appearance, a detail that has drawn criticism from former players and observers as the franchise seeks to honor its legacy while navigating an unsettled offseason.

Former Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason, who is himself a Ring of Honor member, publicly outlined the invitation he received, reading it on his radio show. He described it as offering two complimentary tickets with the option to buy an additional one, while travel, hotel stays, and other costs would fall to the inductees. The email also mentioned a block of hotel rooms at a discounted rate and asked recipients to RSVP by a stated deadline. The message concluded with a nod to the team’s refrain, “Who Dey,” and urged invited honorees to reach out with questions. Esiason said the arrangement felt...