Orlando Brown Jr. endorses former Bengals OT Willie Anderson for Hall of Fame enshrinement
Long before Orlando Brown Jr. played his first 11 games for the Cincinnati Bengals, the four-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle acknowledged his awareness and respect for the franchise's history. Look no further than his incredible back-and-forth conversation with Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz from the offseason.The Bengals will hope to get another former offensive tackle […]
Long before Orlando Brown Jr. played his first 11 games for the Cincinnati Bengals, the four-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle acknowledged his awareness and respect for the franchise's history. Look no further than his incredible back-and-forth conversation with Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz from the offseason.
The Bengals will hope to get another former offensive tackle of their's in the Hall this year. Willie Anderson was selected as a Modern-Era Semifinalist for the fourth consecutive year Tuesday morning, and OBJ showed his support for Anderson over X/Twitter.
Brown would know a thing or two about Anderson's legendary career. His father, Orlando Brown Sr., played Anderson's Bengals many a time during his own admirable NFL tenure with the Baltimore Ravens. He suited up 12 times against the Bengals for both the Ravens and Cleveland Browns during Anderson's career in Cincinnati.
It's not just the mutual respect of an opponent that resonates here, it's the position in question. Brown Sr. was a career right tackle, just like Anderson was, and both had to battle narratives surrounding the position, specifically the lack of respect it's historically received relative to left tackle.
The younger Brown fought that fight himself early in his career with the Ravens. Once he had the chance to play left tackle, he never looked back. He's since made additional Pro Bowls as a blindside protector, won a Super Bowl, and secured a long-term contract.
Just because he lines up on the other side of the formation doesn't mean that respect has evaporated. Brown watched Anderson dominate the position from an early age against his dad's team, and is now spreading the good word of his legacy so many years later.
This would be an ideal year for Anderson to get in. His name was left on the cutting room floor the past few years as other worthy offensive linemen got the good news. Anderson happens to be one of only two o-linemen on the modern ballot this year, which should increase his chances of finally getting that bust along with recently being involved in the conversation.
It's gotta mean a lot to Anderson that one of the Bengals' most prominent current players has his back.
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