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By Shannon Russell • srussell@enquirer.com • October 1, 2008
The embattled wide receiver returned to the Bengals Monday after his NFL-issued four-game suspension for violating the personal conduct policy and is now available to meet with the media.
More interesting than that is his role - and effect - on the team.
Carson Palmer greeted Henry Monday afternoon before he left the locker room to run routes and catch passes with backup quarterback Jordan Palmer. Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh thought other Bengals would be just as receptive to him.
"I don't think there's many people in here who would say, 'Why is he here?' Does it really matter?" Houshmandzadeh said.
The NFL granted the Bengals a one-week roster exemption for Henry, who is able to participate in all team activities until Monday without counting against the roster limit. The club would have to create a place on their 53-man roster by 4 p.m. Saturday for Henry to play Sunday in Dallas.
Henry, of course, is no stranger to the Bengals. His off-field woes climaxed April 3 when he was waived by the team.
But after assault and criminal damaging charges against him were dismissed, owner Mike Brown brought him back. Henry was re-signed to a two-year Bengals contract Aug. 19.
Legal troubles give him something in common with a player who could be covering him Sunday: Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones.
Jones, Henry's former teammate at West Virginia, was arrested six times since 2005 and was connected to a shooting at a Las Vegas strip club, the Associated Press said. The former Tennessee Titan was suspended for the 2007 season.
Jones was overjoyed to start for the injured Terence Newman in the Cowboys' Sept. 7 opener.
"I've been waiting for this day for about 600 days," Jones told the AP, referring to his previous start in December 2006. "It was real emotional, but that's what I live for. It was great. I enjoyed myself. I have no regrets. I'm smiling from ear to ear."
Jones has 14 tackles and a fumble recovery for the 3-1 Cowboys.
Whether Henry revels in another opportunity, as Jones has with the Cowboys, remains to be seen. Houshmandzadeh said he thinks Henry will fit in just fine, adding that Henry likely is glad to be employed again.
"He has a family," Houshmandzadeh said. "It's like anything else. If you get suspended from your job, they're going to allow you back. That's what's happened in this case and I think he'll be all right. He'll learn from it."
In his abbreviated eight-game 2007 season (the result of repeated personal conduct policy violations) Henry caught 21 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged the Bengals' longest yards-per-catch (16.3).
He's a viable deep threat - some would say a much-needed one that could help the anemic offense - but Houshmandzadeh contends that other parts of the game must be fixed before the offense relies on the long pass.
"You can't throw the ball deep if everything else ain't working. So to throw the ball deep, a lot of things have to take place," Houshmandzadeh said.
Henry's physical shape is a big factor in his potential to return quickly as that threat. The NFL cleared him to practice two weeks before his suspension ended last year, making for an easier transition when he was officially reinstated.
This year he was not afforded that opportunity.
Houshmandzadeh said Henry has been working out and running and believes he'll adjust well. Coach Marvin Lewis said Monday Henry's ability to help the club is a wait-and-see situation.
"If he's in football condition and learns what to do again, and be on spot and be where he needs to be, then he can be productive," Lewis said.
Based purely on wins and losses, the Bengals were better with Henry last season than without him.
When he played, the Bengals were 5-3 and won by an average of 14 points. When he didn't, the Bengals went 2-6 and lost by an average of 10 points.
The embattled wide receiver returned to the Bengals Monday after his NFL-issued four-game suspension for violating the personal conduct policy and is now available to meet with the media.
More interesting than that is his role - and effect - on the team.
Carson Palmer greeted Henry Monday afternoon before he left the locker room to run routes and catch passes with backup quarterback Jordan Palmer. Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh thought other Bengals would be just as receptive to him.
"I don't think there's many people in here who would say, 'Why is he here?' Does it really matter?" Houshmandzadeh said.
The NFL granted the Bengals a one-week roster exemption for Henry, who is able to participate in all team activities until Monday without counting against the roster limit. The club would have to create a place on their 53-man roster by 4 p.m. Saturday for Henry to play Sunday in Dallas.
Henry, of course, is no stranger to the Bengals. His off-field woes climaxed April 3 when he was waived by the team.
But after assault and criminal damaging charges against him were dismissed, owner Mike Brown brought him back. Henry was re-signed to a two-year Bengals contract Aug. 19.
Legal troubles give him something in common with a player who could be covering him Sunday: Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones.
Jones, Henry's former teammate at West Virginia, was arrested six times since 2005 and was connected to a shooting at a Las Vegas strip club, the Associated Press said. The former Tennessee Titan was suspended for the 2007 season.
Jones was overjoyed to start for the injured Terence Newman in the Cowboys' Sept. 7 opener.
"I've been waiting for this day for about 600 days," Jones told the AP, referring to his previous start in December 2006. "It was real emotional, but that's what I live for. It was great. I enjoyed myself. I have no regrets. I'm smiling from ear to ear."
Jones has 14 tackles and a fumble recovery for the 3-1 Cowboys.
Whether Henry revels in another opportunity, as Jones has with the Cowboys, remains to be seen. Houshmandzadeh said he thinks Henry will fit in just fine, adding that Henry likely is glad to be employed again.
"He has a family," Houshmandzadeh said. "It's like anything else. If you get suspended from your job, they're going to allow you back. That's what's happened in this case and I think he'll be all right. He'll learn from it."
In his abbreviated eight-game 2007 season (the result of repeated personal conduct policy violations) Henry caught 21 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged the Bengals' longest yards-per-catch (16.3).
He's a viable deep threat - some would say a much-needed one that could help the anemic offense - but Houshmandzadeh contends that other parts of the game must be fixed before the offense relies on the long pass.
"You can't throw the ball deep if everything else ain't working. So to throw the ball deep, a lot of things have to take place," Houshmandzadeh said.
Henry's physical shape is a big factor in his potential to return quickly as that threat. The NFL cleared him to practice two weeks before his suspension ended last year, making for an easier transition when he was officially reinstated.
This year he was not afforded that opportunity.
Houshmandzadeh said Henry has been working out and running and believes he'll adjust well. Coach Marvin Lewis said Monday Henry's ability to help the club is a wait-and-see situation.
"If he's in football condition and learns what to do again, and be on spot and be where he needs to be, then he can be productive," Lewis said.
Based purely on wins and losses, the Bengals were better with Henry last season than without him.
When he played, the Bengals were 5-3 and won by an average of 14 points. When he didn't, the Bengals went 2-6 and lost by an average of 10 points.