Posts tagged ChrisHenry at FanHouse

Bengals Make Chris Henry a Captain

Hold up! Wait! What!?!?

Well, for one night only, the Cincinnati Bengals made Chris Henry one of their team captains during last night's final preseason game:
Wide receiver Chris Henry, dressed in uniform number 15, was in a group of players at midfield before the game, representing the Bengals as a team captain during the coin toss against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday night.

Now, let's play a game of "What Does This Mean?"

-Was it the Bengals way of trying to send a message to Henry that they expect him to be an upstanding citizen and teammate?

-Was it the Bengals way of trying to tell the NFL that these preseason games are a joke?

-Was it Marvin Lewis' way of smacking owner Mike Brown by overly "accepting" Henry back ... even if he doesn't want him?

Profitable Returns for the Injured, Suspended, and Other Question Marks



Ever hear of the economic principle, the law of diminishing returns? Basically, if production of an item reaches a certain point, it's counter-productive to create more output because the profits will decrease for each additional unit. In fantasy football, there is an opposite affect on players with question marks heading into the season.
A perfect example is Steve Smith. I already own him on multiple teams. Why? He's suspended for two games. Because of this suspension, however, owners are letting him fall too far on draft boards. You just have to approach drafting Smith like he has three bye weeks instead of one. Plug those holes with a someone like Nate Burleson -- who will be Matt Hasselbeck's top receiving option in the early season -- in the next few rounds and you're covered.

Smith is going to put up monster stats with Jake Delhomme back and other receivers attracting coverage this season in his 13 games. The point of profitable returns for Steve Smith is about round five. He can't fall lower than that.

Ocho Hurt? Rudi Traded? Chris Henry? Bengals Just Can't Change Their Stripes

Man, what a month to be a Bengals fan.

I'm not going in order here -- just gonna start anywhere:

Chad Johnson: After a spring and summer of him mouthing off, he gets into camp with an ankle problem. After finally getting that taken care of (and calling out Michael Phelps ... oh, and wanting to change his name to "Ocho Cinco"), he dislocates his shoulder that puts his season in jeopardy.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh: All this while T.J. Hows-ya-mamma is nursing his hamstring. The injury has been highly criticized around Cincinnati as T.J. just milking it so he doesn't have to practice or play in the preseason (judging by what's happening around the league, it isn't a bad move). Housh is in the final year of his deal, which points more fingers at what he's doing.

Chris Henry: With their receivers banged up, the Bengals signed Chris Henry for help. This has really pissed off Bengals fans to the point that ... well, if they haven't given up their tickets by now, they never will. Henry has yet to practice and will be suspended for the first four games on the season.

Chris Henry Signed With Bengals on Tuesday, Still Hasn't Practiced

Chris Henry, recently re-signed to the Bengals despite head coach Marvin Lewis' protestations, will not play in tonight's preseason game against the Saints. Something about community service.

Or maybe he's just not in shape, which seems sort of odd since, really, what else has he had to do this offseason? I mean, other than the court appearances? According to the Cincinnati Enquirer's Mark Curnutte, Henry hasn't made his way onto the practice field since signing with the Bengals on Tuesday, but he has worked with the strength and conditioning coach, so there's there.

All indications are that Lewis was done with Henry, but owner Mike Brown had other ideas. Why those ideas including re-signing a chronic law-breaker and on-field underachiever seems odd, but, hey, I thought it was bizarre that the Bengals didn't think scouting players was all that important (which, ironically, has something to do with their current predicament).

To prove a point, Lewis could refuse to play Henry, but that's basically a Pyrrhic victory -- the team is currently without Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and the rookie wideouts are skrugglin'. Plus, it would likely hasten Lewis' departure. But maybe that's what he's going for.

Chillin' At the Water Cooler With Bengals Fans: Chris Henry Controversy

I live and work in the Metro Cincinnati area and the Bengals are usually on everyone's brain. During the season, I will gather a few of my co-workers (Tom Otten, William Morgan and Dave Chandler) together "at the water cooler" and discuss some Bengals topics.

This week is a bit different as I discussed the the controversial Chris Henry signing with several other fans -- not all of them Bengals fans
. My opinion has been documented.

Dave C: "I don't agree with the signing. We have enough trouble in the locker room and now adding another headcase. Also showing Marvin [Lewis] has no say in what goes on with his team since he didn't want him back. Typical Mike Brown."

William M: "Think it was a good no risk move. Low money move. And if he mess up after this time ... not only will he be off the Bengals team ... he will be out of the NFL."

Tom O: "I'm the guy who doesn't care what you do off the field -- just show up and play. This isn't girl scout camp ... this is war! But to kick a player off your team, call him a big problem, wash your hands of him and then re-sign him? The Bengals have lost all credibility. Their 'laughing stock' has just gone up! The only thing for Marvin Lewis to do is resign. Save face now and maybe you get a job elsewhere. This team is going nowhere. Continue to prove you have no control on a joke team and you'll wind up like [former Bengals coach] Dave Shula. Go Browns!"

Anthony C: "Great move!"

In a Shocking Development, Agent Reveals That Chris Henry Is Broke

Cincinnati: the NFL's halfway house. In news that should've surprised no one, the team re-signed chronic law breaker Chris Henry yesterday. At the time, the move was thought to be a combination of things: injuries to starters Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and less-than-expected progress by the two rookies, Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell.

And today, Bengals.com confirms as much: the team, faced with the possibility of going into the season without two of it's best players and nothing behind them, prompted the re-ushering in of the Chris Henry Era. Ah, good times, indeed.
The signing indicates that Chad Johnson's sprained shoulder is serious enough that the Bengals look to be preparing for the possibility that Johnson could be sidelined for several weeks, although Johnson insisted Monday night he'll be back for the opener.

But that's not the only injury that has clouded the receiver picture in the last 48 hours. There is also rookie receiver Andre Caldwell's sprained foot and T.J. Houshmandzadeh's hamstring. He's 50-50 at best to play in his first preseason game Saturday night against the Saints, and the Bengals could be forced to sign a receiver in addition to Henry.
But it gets better: according to Henry's agent, the gun-toting, jersey-wearing evil doer is broke, but has apparently "undergone a transformation in order to get his life back in order." Translation: "I'm broke and I need to quit acting like a jackass long enough to get paid."

Bengals Power Struggle: Mike Brown Shows Marvin Lewis Who Is Boss

Despite being released prior to the NFL Draft in April, there have been rumors swirling that Chris Henry could be a Bengal very soon.

When that rumor broke, it was said that Bengals owner Mike Brown really wanted Henry back ... but coach Marvin Lewis wanted nothing to do with him. Lewis put his word on the line when he said this team would rid themselves of the problem players that have made the franchise into a national punchline. Bringing Henry back would just kill any belief in what Lewis says.

And now that has happened, as Henry is close to being a Bengal again.

It isn't Lewis' fault. Brown wanted him and he's the owner. We've been there where we know better than our bosses but they go ahead and do what they want. In Cincinnati, Lewis has to fight this to create his team on a daily basis and has no one to answer to but Mr. Brown ... Mr. Brown's daughter ... and Mr. Brown's daughter's husband.

Those are Lewis' bosses, which makes him the highest ranking "football guy" in the organization. That's what makes this a shame for Bengals fans.

Bengals Figure Chris Henry Has Changed His Life In Past, Oh, Four Months

Let me go ahead and say this for you: "Chris Henry is a great talent. The Bengals can get him cheap. The Bengals need help at the receiver spot. I don't care what he does off the field as long as he brings in on Sundays"

Is that it? Good.

Every NFL team had the same shot as the talented, cheap, helpful Chris Henry ... and none wanted any part of him. The other 31 teams haven't felt abandoned by Henry, who takes some NFL-sanctioned time off here and there. None of the other teams have invested anything in Henry ... so bringing him in on the cheap wouldn't harm them. Low risk, high reward.

But the Bengals drafted Henry, have relied on Henry and have had to deal with his suspensions in his three professional seasons (by the way ... he is suspended for the first four games of this season, too). He has been a bad member of the community and you are welcoming him back.

It makes no sense to me. Oh, sure, the part that the Bengals badly need at receiver and Henry was pretty cheap makes sense. But the Bengals didn't cut him in April because he was a bad player; they cut him because he was a bad person.

It Looks Like the Bengals and Chris Henry Are Gettin' Back Together


You know what happens when your No. 1 receiver bellyaches through the entire offseason, your No. 3 receiver is released for clinical stupidity, and you realize that the second- and third-round wideouts you drafted are nowhere near as good as you hoped?

You re-sign the stupid one. Obviously.

We'd mentioned at various points this summer that the Bengals, intrigued by chronic law breakers who are really good at football, had been contemplating giving Chris Henry another chance to prove he can't be as dumb as his arrest record might indicate. And now, it looks like the band's gettin' back together!
The Cincinnati Bengals are close to reaching an agreement with free-agent receiver Chris Henry, a source told ESPN.com Monday night. Henry is en route from Charlotte, N.C., to Cincinnati to sign a contract with the team as early as Tuesday, the source said.

The Bengals refused comment on Henry when contacted by ESPN.com on Monday night.
ESPN's James Walker writes that the team thinks it may have overreacted in cutting Henry after his latest arrest but before the charges were eventually dropped. Maybe.

That Chad Johnson was injured last night, T.J. Houshmandzadeh is battling a hammy, and rookies Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell are underperforming, I suppose this move makes perfect sense.

Well, until Henry gets arrested again, anyway.

Kyle Boller Is Clearly the Ravens' Best QB, Chris Henry Could Be Their Best WR

Another day, another new favorite in the Race to Win the Ravens Starting Quarterback job. Good times. Earlier this week, word on the street was that the Baltimore locker room was quietly lobbying for second-year player Troy Smith, but this afternoon, the Baltimore Sun's Mike Preston writes that the job has pretty much been determined.

Kind of.
None of the quarterbacks separated himself from the others in training camp, but if the Ravens had to choose a quarterback from what happened in camp, Kyle Boller clearly was the winner. A lot of the players prefer Troy Smith, but Boller was more consistent and made less mistakes.
So, basically, once again, Boller wins the war of attrition. That certainly speaks to his survival skills, but it also says a lot about the historically sorry state of the Ravens' quarterback situation.

There's no reason to think Joe Flacco would be ready by September (the last time the Ravens tried that -- with Boller in '03 -- it blew up in their faces), although there is a case that Smith should have a shot at the gig.

Whoever prevails in '08, it'll be a short-term stint, but wide receiver help could be on the way. At least according to SI.com's Jim Trotter. Assuming the Bengals were joking about reconsidering their stance on Chris Henry, Trotter writes that "another team that may be interested in Henry's services is Baltimore, where former Bengals wide receivers coach Hue Jackson is now an assistant." (Ah, yes, good ol' Hue.)

Because that would obviously solve the Ravens' myriad offensive issues. Somebody needs to make this happen.
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