Last week, the blog formerly known as Hashmarks suggested that the Bengals might want to think about re-signing Chris Henry, the former wide receiver who is now without transportation or a place to live. It was an interesting personnel strategy -- go after a guy after he's lost everything -- but one that was littered with potential pitfalls. During Henry's three years in Cincinnati, he had myriad legal run-ins, and that eventually led to the Bengals finally releasing him. Bringing him back would certainly add depth at wide receiver, something the team needs, but given Henry's baggage, it hardly made sense.
FanHouse's Sportz Assassin made the case for why the team should move on, and yesterday, head coach Marvin Lewis basically reiterated that line of thinking.
"I'm not interested," Lewis told reporters Tuesday, before the team's annual preseason luncheon. "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."So that's that, I suppose. For Henry, 25 years old and full of potential, there's still a chance he could resurface with another team in need of a wideout. He must first be reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who suspended him indefinitely earlier this year. That likelihood seems slim, but who had Dig Dug Jones playing for the Cowboys this season?
As for the Bengals, a team who had 10 players arrested over a 14-month span, they have vowed to steer clear of players with character issues. "That's all history now," [team owner Mike] Brown said. "We're going forward and trying to go forward with the kind of guys we can count on, the kind of guys who are not just good players but good citizens."
Like, say, this guy.
