MENTORING UP FRONT
When Lapham arrived in Cincinnati as a third-round pick in 1974, it was easy to pick out who to follow as a role model. Center Bob Johnson, the Bengals' first-ever draft pick, was in his seventh season as the leader of the offensive line. Just in case Lap couldn't figure it out, Paul Brown and offensive line coach Tiger Johnson reminded him:
"It'd be wise for you, young man, to keep your eye on Bob Johnson. See how Bob Johnson does things. Bob Johnson is a pro's pro. It would not hurt if you want to emulate what Bob Johnson's doing."
Lapham could see it for himself.
"I felt like Bob Johnson was a guy who was a perfect example of what you wanted to be like. To be not only a successful football player, but a successful person," Lapham says. "He had everything. He was as smart as a whip. An honor student at Tennessee. All-American football player. He took over a business, made it his own, built it, sold it, made a fortune. I mean, Bob just understood life."
CANTON BROTHERS
As Lapham joins roommate Kenny Anderson in the Ring of Honor, Parrish joins a group that already includes his roommate and tight friend Kenny Riley.
Parrish, in fact, talked to Riley a few days before his sudden death at age 72 five years ago. Both are Florida natives. Both are products of Historically Black Colleges who returned to coach at their alma maters. Both became All-Pro cornerbacks despite never playing the position until they got to the Bengals.
"Riley and I were very close," Parrish said. "Roommates for eight years. Never had a confrontation.
"We shared ideas. We shared our hope for the future, and we talked about family, business, the Hall of Fame. We always thought both of us should go in together."
On Wednesday, Parrish saluted Riley's son, Ken Riley II, and his mother, Barbara, Riley's wife. Kenny Riley made it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023, an astonishing 40 years after he retired with the fourth most interceptions of all-time.
Just as astonishingly, Parrish, who retired a year before Riley, still waits on Canton despite being the only cornerback with at least eight Pro Bowl berths not in the Hall.
"Riley No. 2 a great young man. Shoot, they've followed me," Parrish said. "They've pushed me, they've encouraged me. Just to have patience, Lemar. It's coming.
"He beat me in there," Parrish said, "but I'm happy for him. He was a great cornerback. Great cornerback … He was a technician. My style was in your face. I wanted to challenge every move that you gave me."
LAP AND THE MUSIC MAN
Lapham says one of the big reasons for his development is that he had to face All-Pro defensive tackle Mike Reid every day in his rookie training camp. Lap says Reid could be the best player he's ever faced.
But it was only for that '74 camp. Reid retired at age 28 before the next camp to devote himself to what became a musical career dotted with Grammy awards.
That one camp was enough. Lapham can still imitate Tiger Johnson whispering sweat dread to him in his Texas drawl:
"Dave Lapham, you're going to get going against Mike Reid. He's the quickest guy that I've ever seen in my life. I'm telling you, he's quicker than a hiccup. You're going to think, son of a (bleep), did I close my eyes? I know I didn't close my eyes. How did he get from there to there so quickly?"
It turned out that Johnson wasn't exaggerating, and Lapham knew he had to learn NFL pass blocking quickly in order not to look bad daily.
"He was right. Man. Mike Reid was like a blur. That son of a gun was quicker than a cat," Lapham says. "He might have been as good a player as I played against."
Lapham held his own. He knew because after a really good rep against Reid, Paul Brown told him so.
"Young man, that was well done. You acquitted yourself quite well there. He's a hell of a player," Brown told Lapham. "That guy can rush the passer young man. Great job."
"When he praised you, you felt like a million bucks," Lapham says.