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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Chris Roling

Willie Anderson sheds Hall of Fame snub to celebrate Ken Riley

Cincinnati Bengals great Willie Anderson isn’t sweating missing on the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the second year in a row as a finalist.

After all, fellow Bengals great Ken Riley finally just got enshrined after a massive wait, becoming the second player in team history to enter the hall.

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Asked about the situation, Anderson said the moment is a fantastic one even if he didn’t get his just yet.

“I’m in a good mood because Kenny Riley is in,” Anderson said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “Because I know what it meant for him. He mentioned it to me before he passed away. The only sad part about it is he’s not here to see it, but I talk to his son. We text. They’re excited. They’ve been pushing for me, pulling for me and we’ve all been pulling for them. Tonight’s a great feeling. I know what that man meant. I love when the greats who came before me get honored.”

It’s an awesome note from Anderson, one of the best right tackles of his era. And even if it’s not a focus at this very moment, he’s got a very good chance to enter the hall next year now that the logjam at offensive line has cleared.

Odds are good Anderson will be a finalist for a third straight year, especially now that it feels like a logjam of Bengals has actually broken in this modernized era for the franchise, too.

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