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That's right, ladies and gentlemen. He's back! The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed troubled wide receiver Chris Henry on Tuesday. And this is not a "just for now" contract either, but reportedly a two-year deal...

Chris Henry, Bengals Deserve Each Other

by Craig Garrison Sr (Columnist)

9

549 reads

Opinion

August 19, 2008


That's right, ladies and gentlemen. He's back!

The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed troubled wide receiver Chris Henry on Tuesday. And this is not a "just for now" contract either, but reportedly a two-year deal.

It was only this past April that Henry was cut from the team following his fifth arrest since being drafted in 2005.

Bengals president Mike Brown said at the time of his release that, "His conduct can no longer be tolerated, the Bengals tried for an extended period of time to support Chris and his potentially bright career.

"We had hoped to guide him toward an appropriate standard of personal responsibility that this community would support and that would allow him to play in the NFL...But those efforts end today, as we move on with what is best for our team."

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis had this to say at the team's annual preseason luncheon on July 22 when asked about the possibility of the team re-signing Henry:

"I'm not interested, I don't think it would be productive for our football team. You have to be a productive part to be an NFL player, and there's responsibilities to being an NFL player. It's a privilege, it's not a right. There's a lot that comes with being an NFL football player."

And now, the the head coach and the team president, have no comment. Can anyone say, "Never say Never"?

Henry will miss the first four games of the regular season. He has been suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

The signing is a direct response to the Bengals losing Chad Johnson to injury in last week's preseason game. Johnson injured his left shoulder after being flipped over while jumping to catch a pass and landing awkwardly. However, there has been nothing definitive released by the team concerning the severity of his injury.

The team's second receiver, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, has already missed the preseason due to a muscle pull and skipped the team's OTAs during the offseason. This is rumored to be in response to a desire for a new contract.

Because of the injuries, the team is shorthanded at the position, and the front office was apparently desperate.

Not that the Bengals need desperation to make questionable personnel decisions. They have become well know for bringing in troubled players. Odell Thurman, A.J. Nicholson, Frostee Rucker, are just a few of the many troubled young men the Bengals have had on their roster in the past several years. And Chris Perry, a question mark since Michigan.

There are reports that Lewis is not happy with his bosses in the Bengals front office. And why would he be? His own bosses have just cut him off at the knees. And every player on the team knows it. Lewis has no authority, and if he does, he has no respect. Lewis has lost this team, or it has been taken away from him, and that can't change how.

Sorry, Bengals fans, you're in for a long season.

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9 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. fabian johnson 10 months ago

    wow... what a waste of an article. obviously biased and without facutal information to back it up... must be easy to litter the internet with your sports gargabe, abandoning concern for picking it up. D-, now go home.

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    • Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago

      Oh boy, I am so torn up by your criticism. I think I will NEVER write again. What "FACTS" are missing? Is there something inaccurate about it?

      Since you obviously posted and went home yourself, I guess I'll not concern myself with your "garbage".

      Appreciate the input though.

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  2. Barry Williams 10 months ago

    Where did that part about TJ come from? I haven't heard that anywhere else.

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  3. Brad Sheely 10 months ago

    The new contract thing is news to me and all others that read cincinnati papers and blogs on a daily basis. Since the beginning TJ has said if the bengals want to offer him a new contract he will look at it, if not he knows he will get paid by someone else. I think that part is false but the injury part is correct. Unfortunately Marvin Lewis is a smug a$$hole and will not give an honest answer to what is wrong with TJ. People can rant all they want about the front office but there is nothing more annoying than a coach who thinks his sh!t dont stink.

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    • Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago

      I will send you the links to where I got the contract rumors as soon as I find 'em, had stuff listed on the Bengals but I recently changed laptops, gotta find it now.

      I agree on your points on Lewis, didn't like him when he was D-Coordinator in Washington, but I thought he would do better than he has with Cinnci.

      But how do YOU feel about the Bengals bringing a buy like Henry back? Doesn't it bother you at all? I know when Snyder signed Sanders it PI&&ED ME OFF SOMETHING FIERCE. I didn't stop supporting the Skins (and I wouldn't expect any Bengals fans to stop supporting the them either) over it, but man it messed me up for a while.

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  4. Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago

    Here was one, I'll post any others I find: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24895212/?pg=4#spt_Curran_NFL_Gripes

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  5. Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago

    Obviously, I used the wrong term "contract holdout"(and have corrected it) since he entered camp on time, my error, and maybe I should have included these to begin with, I didn't think it would be news to anyone:

    http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story;jsessionid=FEFED108088649A0E185E49E22F78464?id=09000d5d8074e609&template=with-video&confirm=true
    http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=3247
    http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/football/ffl/story?page=nfldk2K8_cincamp
    http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/T.J.+Houshmandzadeh/
    And many notes about supposedly getting contract negotiations underway early in the year. He has handled things well, very quietly, and attended all mandatory stuff.

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  6. Jesse Crewe 10 months ago

    How is Chris Perry a troubled young man other then having injury problems?

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