"Death, taxes, and No. 85 will always be open." It's the three certainties in life according to former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson, and who could argue with him? 

Johnson is one of the greatest NFL pass-catchers of the modern era, and he's now one of 13 nominees for the Bengals Ring of Honor class of 2023. The case for "Ochocinco" needs no support or research, as his on-field dominance and off-field impact make him a virtual locked to be inducted into the Bengals' third-ever class. 

It's the case for Lemar Parrish that needs to be made. 

The 1970 NFL Draft has two Hall of Famers in Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount, both drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. They're also both No. 1 and 2 in that class in terms of Pro-Football-Reference.com's Weighted Career Approximate Value.

Parrish is No. 3 right behind them. 

As a seventh-round pick in that draft, Parrish wasted absolutely no time before becoming a dominant cornerback in Cincinnati. He made the Pro Bowl twice and intercepted 12 passes in his first two years. 

In eight total years in Cincinnati, Parrish made six Pro Bowls and intercepted 25 passes. The number of games he missed in that timeframe matches that number of Pro Bowls made.

It wasn't just getting interceptions that made Parrish special, it was what he did with them. Parrish amassed 354 interception return yards and four return touchdowns with the Bengals. Teams knew not to throw his way, and he made them pay whenever the ball landed in his hands. 

Parrish was great on his own, and the presence of running mate Ken Riley only made it more intimidating to throw against the Bengals' secondary. Riley himself is another great reason why Parrish should receiving an induction sooner rather than later.

For many years, Bengals media and fans alike made a concerted effort to spread the word of Riley's career, and legitimacy for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When Riley passed away in 2020 at the age of 72, the need to spread awareness only intensified. A year later, the Bengals' Ring of Honor was established, and Riley was an inductee in the inaugural class of 2021. 

Two years later, Riley's family finally received the call from Canton, OH, and the legendary cornerback will be posthumously inducted, the second-ever Bengals player to receive the honor.

In a way, Parrish's commendable 13-year career, in which eight years were spent in the Queen City, has taken a backseat to Riley's run as one of the most unheralded in league history. The accolades and stats show that Parrish has just as much of a Hall of Fame case as any who have yet to get a golden jacket.  

"Lemar has been overlooked for a long time. How many guys have eight Pro Bowls and aren't in?" Said former teammate Louis Breeden two years ago about Parrish not being in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "I never hear anyone bring him up. It's part of disrespecting the Bengals. They don't give you the credit you deserve. He was one of the quickest players you've ever seen. He had long arms. He was quick, fast. Numbers don't lie."

Parrish didn't end his career with the Bengals. He played four years with Washington and then ended his career with the Buffalo Bills. His second and third year in the nation's capital resulted in first-team and second-team All-Pro honors, respectively, along with two more Pro Bowls to boot. The quality of play didn't change, but the exposure in a larger market did.

Of the many Bengals greats to be overlooked in history, Parrish, like Riley, was one of the originals. He's one of the most accomplished players in team history, and defensive players during his era. 

If the NFL doesn't have room to immortalize him, the Bengals need to take it upon themselves to do so.