The Cincinnati Bengals, deciding they have had enough of wide receiver Chris Henry's run-ins with the law, released him on Thursday, hours after he surrendered to police to face assault and criminal damaging charges.Henry, 24, was being held in the Hamilton County jail, pending a court appearance Thursday, after being charged with misdemeanor assault and criminal damaging. He is accused of punching an 18-year-old man in the face and breaking a window in the man's car. A warrant for Henry's arrest was issued Wednesday and he surrendered, a police spokesman said.
Municipal Court Judge Bernie Bouchard set bond at $51,000 on charges of misdemeanor assault and criminal damaging. Noting Henry's previous arrests involving drugs, guns and alcohol, the judge called Henry "a one-man crime wave." He ordered electronic monitoring if Henry makes bail.
"Chris Henry has forfeited his opportunity to pursue a career with the Bengals. His conduct can no longer be tolerated," Bengals president Mike Brown said in a statement.
Henry, arrested five times since December 2005, was suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for the first half of last season for repeatedly violating the league's conduct policy.
The team really had little choice in the matter. Its highly likely that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will suspend Henry for the entire season, regardless of the results of any legal proceedings. The NFL hands down its own guilty sentences with little regard to what the actual US Legal System says... just ask Pacman Jones about that.
The Bengals were facing the possibility of once again taking a hit on their salary cap while Henry remained unavailable to play for them. The money could be better spent on players who are not going to be serving a suspension.
Cincinnati fans are now left with Two Amigos, rather than three. Chad and TJ are will certainly face tighter coverage without the threat of Henry on the field. And their workload will certainly increase. Unless the team can bring in another superstar receiver, the offensive firepower will be diminished greatly. Its a shame that the team and the NFL seek action against a player before all the facts are known. While its no secret that Henry has established a pattern of off-field problems, we still do not know all the facts in this particular case. There are two sides to every story, and thus far we have only heard from the accuser.
Bengals fans were really excited about the upcoming season. They really felt that this would be the year they reached the playoffs again. Now the fans are once again reduced to watching their team tear itself apart from the inside, and left wondering just how it can get any worse.
