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Bengals miss Henry; Henry misses Bengals
»Update: Police: Bengals’ Henry dies day after dispute
Editor’s Note: The following story was written hours after Chris Henry’s last interview. Henry talked to the DDN’s Carlos Holmes on Tuesday night. Henry died Thursday morning.
If you ask any Monday morning quarterback what the problem is with Cincinnati ’s struggling passing game you likely would hear the name Chris Henry. Critics believe that the Bengals’ problems on offense began when the team lost its deep-threat receiver. Henry suffered a season-ending forearm injury in the game against Baltimore in Week 9.
The Bengals are ranked 23rd overall in passing yards and seem to take a dip in the rankings each week. The offense had its lowest output of the season passing against Minnesota . Quarterback Carson Palmer completed 15 out of 25 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. Needless to say, Minnesota beat up on the Bengals, 30-10.
Head coach Marvin Lewis gave his assessment of the team’s passing game at his Monday news conference.
“We’ve got to do a better job of executing,” Lewis said. “We have to protect. We have to be in the right spots at the right depths and give the opportunity to the quarterback. And I think we’ve got to go back and do a better job of manufacturing some balls down the field.”
There’s another reason for the sputtering passing game. No Henry!
Bengal opponents had to respect, if not fear, Henry. Teams would game plan for him because he’s a receiving threat. Now it seems oh so easy for opposing defenses to put the kibosh on the passing game.
With Henry out of the lineup, it leaves Chad Ochocinco as the only consistent downfield threat, which means he’ll draw a lot of double- and triple-teams in coverage. Henry gave the team a viable option before going down with the injury. He averaged 19.7 yards per catch and was a go-to-guy for Palmer in clutch situations. The Bengals have had 63 possessions and scored only five touchdowns during Henry’s absence.
So what has Oh Henry been up to these days?
“Man, I’ve been trying to get a bunch of my wedding stuff taken care of since my injury,” Henry said during a phone conversation on Tuesday, Dec. 15. “I’ve been back and fourth between Cincinnati and North Carolina getting ready for the big day.”
Henry is set to marry his Polynesian Beyonce and mother of his three children in March 2010.
What does he think of the offense and will he be back next season?
“I hate sitting back watching my team struggle,” Henry said. “It won’t be easy, but I know they’ll figure out a way to turn things around. The team is pretty much in the playoffs and I know they’re going to do their thing once they get there. I only wish that I could be out there with them helping them as much as I can, but I won’t be back out there until next year.”
Maybe, maybe not?
Henry is in the final year of this contact with the Bengals and at the end of the season will become either a restricted free agent (RFA) if uncapped or an unrestricted free agent (UFA) if the Collective Bargaining Agreement is extended.
“I wish for something to happen so I can remain in Cincinnati and play for the Bengals,” Henry said. “I don’t want to go anywhere else, to tell you the truth. I love being a Bengal and love (Carson) Palmer. What he can do for me and what I could do for him is unlimited.
“I like the system that I’m playing in and will continue to work hard to be that No. 2 guy. I really want to show Cincinnati what I’m all about as a receiver. Hopefully, I’ll get that opportunity.”
As far as the injury, Henry’s broken left forearm is in a full cast right now and will be in a smaller version next week. The diagnosis for recovery is 10 weeks and rehab will begin immediately thereafter.
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Comments
By mark johnson
December 16, 2009 11:46 PM | Link to this
seriously dude
By null
December 17, 2009 3:37 AM | Link to this
It’s a very sad moment to see him possibly losing his life. He turned his life and career around for the better, and then that happens. I hope and pray for a full and successful recovery. Football is no longer a concern for him.
By bill
December 17, 2009 7:44 AM | Link to this
I hope he has a full recovery but his problems continue!
By old coach
December 17, 2009 8:52 AM | Link to this
How sad. How quickly things can be taken from you. Maybe the most precious of all.
By old54
December 17, 2009 10:27 AM | Link to this
Just heard the young man passed away. What an awful thing to have happen. That young lady could be in big, big trouble and with the little ones.