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Ken Riley inducted into HBCU Hall of Fame this weekend

Paul Dehner Jr.
Cincinnati

Former Bengals cornerback Ken Riley will be inducted into the Historically Black College and University Hall of Fame on Saturday in Atlanta.

Riley lives on as a legend in Bengals history after a 14-year career (1969-83) where he set the team record for interceptions with 65. The Rattler, as he would be known, ranks fifth on the all-time NFL list for picks and the most by a player with a single team. His nine interceptions in the 1976 season are only topped in Bengals history by the 10 picks by Deltha O'Neal in 2004.

He'll enter the Hall this weekend for his accomplishments at Florida A&M University. Six others will join Riley at the induction, he goes in along with Roger Brown, Richard Dent, L.C. Greenwood, Ernie "Big Cat" Ladd, Donnie Shell and former Jackson State head coach W.C. Gorden.

This marks the latest Hall of Fame induction for Riley, who also is a member of Florida Sports Hall of Fame, the Florida A&M Hall of Fame, the Polk County Hall of Fame, the cities of Bartow and Tallahassee Halls of Fame and the public-school Hall of Fame.

Despite his myriad accomplishments in both the collegiate and then professional ranks with Cincinnati, he's still not a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Earlier this month, Hall of Fame voter Rick Gosselin made a pitch for his inclusion on the veteran's committee list.

Cornerback Ken Riley leaves the field with his third interception of the day against the Los Angeles Raiders in 1982. Riley would play his final NFL season the next year and finish with 65 interceptions, currently fifth on the all-time NFL list.

Riley's 65 interceptions are even more impressive when placed into perspective of the franchise list and era. His interceptions came in a time of decreased passing whereas there are 50 percent more opportunities for interceptions in the pass-happy NFL. The next closest to his 65 picks on the Bengals all-time list is Louis Breeden with 33. Riley's five interceptions for touchdowns also stands as a franchise record.