The Cincinnati Bengals are requiring their Ring of Honor enshrinees to pay for their own travel and lodging expenses when attending the team’s upcoming enshrinement, according to former quarterback Boomer Esiason. Speaking Friday on his “Boomer & Gio” show, Esiason revealed he was invited to attend the event at Paycor Stadium but would decline due to the expectation that he should cover those costs.
Esiason read from an email which stated that he and a guest would receive two complimentary tickets for the October 26 enshrinement but made no mention of paid travel arrangements. The message informed him: “If you are traveling in for the weekend from out of town, we have secured a block of rooms at the Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel at a preferred discounted rate.”
He noted that while this arrangement may be manageable financially for some, he objected to it on principle.
Paul Brown founded the Bengals in 1967 after leading Cleveland’s franchise. His son, Mike Brown, has managed the club since Paul Brown’s death in 1991. The team has long been characterized by efforts to keep spending low, with recent NFL Players Association report cards rating them poorly in areas such as food service and treatment of families.
Esiason did not specify whether Dave Lapham and Lemar Parrish—the two players set to join the Ring of Honor—would receive different accommodations from those offered to past enshrinees.
On this matter, Esiason said: “He read the email he received that entitled him and a guest to two complimentary tickets with the option to purchase more, but noted there was no mention of a flight being covered in a message that also said, ‘If you are traveling in for the weekend from out of town, we have secured a block of rooms at the Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel at a preferred discounted rate.'” This statement was provided by Esiason regarding what was communicated by team officials ahead of this year’s Ring of Honor event.
The situation highlights ongoing questions about how teams honor their alumni and handle related expenses.
