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!"

Ivan A: "I think we were in s*** for the last few years. We all thought that we wouls come out of it, but it looks like we screwed up again! Terrible move! Nothing against Chad [Johnson] or T.J. [Houshmandzadeh], but I have an 85 and 84 Bengals jersey for sale. Mike Brown should purchans a traveling circus and have fun with it. Oh, wait, he already has!"

Derrick H (Bears fan): "I hate it: we could have used him but our ownership is worse than the Bengals so we didn't even look at him. We need receivers and a quarterback but aren't looking for either. Go figure!"

Bill B: "I really wasn't sure on who to put the blame on this terrible move: coach Lewis, fan pressure to win, Mike Brown or the NFL in general. I'm still not sure! With Dallas giving Pacman [Jones] a chance and all the others getting chances, is wining more important? Some role model, huh? It won't make any difference other than completely breaking up an already fragile team with no consistent leadership. Henry won't stay out of trouble long enough to see a real game. Good luck with the Saints this weekend and Bratkowski ... you got your toy back so maybe we can see Henry sign for nothing. Thank you Mike Brown for another exciting season of disappointment."

Dennis B (converted Steelers fan): As a Steeler fan, I once was a Bengals fan. Boy did I waste so many years wanting them to win. I ask myself after so many seasons, 'how could I enjoy watching them? How could I justify wasting my time?' Once day it came to me: just root for them to lose! It's been nothing but f'ing joy every since! P.S. Hell yes for singing someone to help giving me all that joy! I alsk think Marvin Lewis is behind re-signing that fool!'

Sportz: By the way, that picture to the right was taken of a billboard alongside I-75 in Covington, KY. Now here are some comments around the internets.

Mo Egger (Cincinnati sports radio 1530Homer): "Chris Henry. The downside of all this goes beyond what you think. I'm looking for what this move does to help the team in weeks 1-4, how this fortifies the center position, what depth this adds to the linebacking corps, how it adds capable bodies to the defensive backfield, and how it puts pressure on the quarterback. { ... } What does it say when every other NFL team, most of whom have far better track records than you regarding personnel, decided they didn't need Chris Henry?"

Lance McAlister (1530Homer): "In the end, you and I are just like Marvin.....what are we going to do? Nothing. Yesterday was simply a day to vent and get it off our chest. ...distance ourselves from the slime. Mike hired a player. It's his team. And he's a re-deemer. But 24-hours later it's not like you are really going to walk away. Not you. Not me. Not Marvin. You are not going to sit on your hands in Section 301 and ignore a Chris Henry TD. You are not going to become a free agent and change teams. You are not going to tune out and turn off. I'll still watch and listen. Why would I allow Chris Henry/Mike Brown to prevent me from rooting for the only team I've rooted for in my 41 years? I was a fan long before Chris put on a Bengals uniform and will be here long after Chris exchanges it for a prison uniform."

Paul Daugherty (Cincinnati Enquirer): "This isn't about Chris Henry, per se. Maybe he's a new man. Maybe he's running for tenor in the Vienna Boys Choir. Good for him. Everyone has a right to make a living. This is about how forlorn a franchise the Bengals continue to be. It's about an owner who hasn't presided over a playoff victory in 17 years. Mike Brown has put on the line whatever dignity and credibility his franchise has, for a good-not-great player who has been suspended almost as often as not. Didn't the Bengals draft wideouts in the second and third rounds? Didn't they take three in eight rounds? Oops. Their credibility on the "character'' issue? Zero."

Kirkendall (CincyJungle.com): "Lastly, there's a point going around that I don't much care for. Some are calling others hypocrites, saying that the same people against Henry returning, will be the same people cheering at Paul Brown Stadium when scores a touchdown. It's almost ridiculous to point that out simply because you're cheering for the Cincinnati Bengals scoring a touchdown, taking the lead, winning with a fourth quarter drive. You're fans of the Cincinnati Bengals winning, with or without Henry. So I say to those that are against Henry returning, rant all you want, and cheer loudly when he scores. It's Carson Palmer throwing the touchdown, Levi Jones protecting the quarterbacks blind side, Kenny Watson picking up the linebacker blitz, Chad Johnson commanding double-teams and T.J. Houshmandzadeh owning the underneath routes. It's the Bengals scoring, not just Henry."

Chick Ludwig (Dayton Daily News): "Thirty-one other teams had the opportunity to sign Henry. None of them did. That should tell you something. Too much baggage and luggage. Only the Bengals - with one playoff season in 17 years - would do something this preposterous. With the club's injuries mounting and the offense in disarray, I believe the addition of Chris Henry is a move that will prove just good enough to get Lewis fired after the 2008 season."