In the high-stakes world of NFL fandom, where legends are born and debates rage eternal, the Cincinnati Bengals’ Mount Rushmore has sparked a gridiron controversy. NFL Throwback recently unveiled their picks for the franchise’s fab four, but it seems not everyone’s on the same page. The Bengals’ official website had a different take, pointing toward what seemed like a football family feud. But more on that later!

Meanwhile, Leading NFL Throwback’s list is none other than Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, the man who turned end zone celebrations into an art form and defenses into Swiss cheese. Playing for the team from 2001 to 2010, Johnson became Cincinnati’s all-time leader in catches (766), receiving yards (11,059), and touchdowns (67). As NFL Throwback noted, “Johnson racked up a thousand yards in seven seasons and won the receiving title in 2006.” He was like Red Kryptonite to defensive backs.

And who would know that better than Bengals President Mike Brown? According to the Bengals’ official website, the executive talked about what made the former player special, saying, “He was as quick as anyone we had here. Where it really showed up was as he got downfield, he could break and almost automatically there would be separation and the ball would go into him.” Ochocinco was indeed a larger than life character on the field. From getting down on one knee and proposing a cheerleader to giving the football CPR upon touchdown, there was no way one would watch a Bengals match and not watch Johnson. But Johnson’s spell is incomplete without mentioning former Bengals’ QB (2003-2010) Carson Palmer.

“He ran that in-cut with Carson (Palmer) over the middle where they had great chemistry. They were a great team that moved the ball. Carson was a powerful, accurate passer and once Chad got going full bore, he was hard to stop,” Brown reminisced about the duo, that picked up 44 touchdowns in tandem from 2004 to 2010 alone.

As for the Bengals’ Mount Rushmore as per NFL, next up, we’ve got Anthony Muñoz, the brick wall of an offensive tackle who made 11 Pro Bowls in 13 years (1980-1992). As NFL Throwback put it, “Munoz was a key piece in an offense that finished top 10 in scoring seven times during his career.” He was so dominant that he probably could’ve blocked a hurricane. Muñoz was named All-Pro in nine seasons, solidifying his status as one of the best-left tackles in NFL history.

Then there’s Ken Anderson the OG Bengal QB, who led the team to their first Super Bowl trip in 1981. Anderson, Cincinnati’s all-time leader in passing yards and quarterback wins, was like a surgeon with a football. NFL Throwback highlighted, “Anderson played all 16 seasons in Cincinnati, guiding the team to four playoff trips. He won back-to-back NFL passing titles in ’74 and ’75 and led the league in completion percentage three times.”

Rounding off the four is Ken Riley, the defensive back who was finally given his gold jacket posthumously in 2023. With 65 career interceptions, Riley was stickier than flypaper. As NFL Throwback noted, “Riley was downright snubbed finally making it to the hall of fame 40 years after he retired.” He’s one of just 11 players in NFL history with an interception in 15 different seasons.

Now, about that curveball from the Bengals’ official website. They decided to swap out Ken Riley for Tim Krumrie. This defensive lineman was a wrecking ball for 12 seasons, racking up 34.5 sacks and 13 fumble recoveries. Krumrie made two Pro Bowls and even appeared in a Super Bowl. At the time of his retirement, his 34 sacks were the fourth-highest in NFL history. Talk about leaving a mark on the Bengals’ defense!

But wait, there’s more! The Bengals’ bench is deeper than a philosophical debate. Boomer Esiason, the 1988 MVP who led the team to Super Bowl 23, is knocking on that NFL mountain door with an honorable mention. AJ Green made the Pro Bowl in his first seven seasons, proving he could catch anything thrown his way. Willie Anderson, a 12-year offensive tackle, missed just two games in his first 11 years, showing durability that would make an ironman blush. And let’s not forget Gino Atkins, who anchored the D-line with eight Pro Bowls in the 2010s.

As the debate about the greats is firing up, the Mount Rushmore leader Johnson also had a hot take about his team’s current starter Joe Burrow, earlier this year!

Chad Johnson’s Joe Burrow ‘Script’ and legacy

Speaking of Chad Johnson, the former Bengals star during had made a bombshell prediction that’s got Cincy fans buzzing. At the 53rd-annual Roger Bacon Sports Stag on January 18, Ochocinco had declared, “I know the script for the NFL next year. We’re going to the Super Bowl. What school did Joe Burrow go to? LSU. Where’s the Super Bowl next year? New Orleans. That’s it.”

Johnson’s bold prediction isn’t just hot air. Joe “Cool” Burrow, the Bengals’ current signal-caller, has already shown he’s got the goods to join the Mount Rushmore conversation down the line. With 14,083 passing yards and 97 touchdowns already under his belt since he joined the team in 2020, Burrow’s got Bengals fans dreaming of Super Bowl glory. As NFL Throwback noted, “Joe burrow is well on his way to jumping from the honorable mention category.”

His standout performances, like the 525-yard, 5-touchdown game against the Ravens in 2021, have already etched his name in Bengals lore. And let’s not forget, he’s already led the team to an AFC Championship and a Super Bowl appearance. But with his 2023 campaign coming to a premature end owing to a torn ligament in his right wrist, if Burrow wants to make Ochocinco’s “script” into reality, he’s got to buckle his shoes. “It’s always a challenge, it always is. I’m built for it,” the 27-year-old said in June.

In the end, whether you agree with NFL Throwback’s picks or the Bengals’ official website, one thing’s for sure: Cincinnati’s football legacy is more stacked than a double cheeseburger. And with Chad Johnson leading the charge and Joe Burrow gunning for greatness, the future’s looking brighter than Ochocinco’s gold teeth.