CINCINNATI (WKRC) – The Bengals have played 25 seasons in Paycor Stadium since it opened in 2000 and with that as the backdrop I am subjectively counting down the top 25 players to play for the team in that time frame.
The only criteria is the player must have played at least three seasons for the team this century and their performance with the team is the only thing considered, not performance with other teams either prior to, or after, playing for the Bengals.
An alphabetical list of 25 other players considered will be revealed when No. 1 is released on July 18.
Here are the first two players on the list coming in at No. 24 and No. 25:
No. 25: CB/KR/PR Adam Jones
Years with Bengals: 2010-17
The Skinny: He has certainly had his share off-field issues before coming to the Bengals, during his time with the team and now after his career has been over, but he was an excellent kickoff and punt returner and solid cornerback.
He is the franchise’s all-time leader in career punt return average (11.3 yards per return), is second in career kickoff return average (26.35 yards per return) and led the NFL in kickoff return average in 2014 (31.26 yards per return, which is a single-season franchise record) when he was selected first team All-Pro at that position. He also earned a Pro Bowl spot in 2015.
He started 68 games at cornerback, including all 39 games he was healthy from 2015-17, and recorded 12 interceptions, 10 of which came over his last four seasons when he played regularly.
No. 24 : WR Tyler Boyd
Years with Bengals: 2016-2023
The Skinny: The epitome of a solid veteran
He only had two 1,000-yard receiving seasons and never made the Pro Bowl, but was good for a long time, which is he why he ranks fourth in franchise history in receptions (513) and seventh in franchise history in receiving yards (6,000).