Henry’s Return All Business; No Tact

The news that the Cincinnati Bengals re-signed troubled wide receiver Chris Henry yesterday lit up message boards and sports radio air waves. Everyone had their own opinion, words like “character” and “privilege” were thrown around, and we began to realize the hard truth of the matter: this was a business decision, plain and simple. We watched as the Bengals struggled through distractions and arrests off of the field in the past two years. We watched as their owner preached about his new no-tolerance policy, and we heard head coach Marvin Lewis say that his players would obey the disciplinary policy or else. 

Don’t believe any of that nonsense. Players who can produce on Sundays will be given as many second chances as they need. 

This league is based on wins and losses. Franchises don’t build programs as they do in college, and they don’t teach young men life lessons like they do on the high school fields (though maybe they should). This league is about making money, and the best way to make money is by winning games on Sundays. As much as we don’t want to believe it, Chris Henry gives the Bengals a better chance at doing that this fall. Forget his rap sheet, because this guy can stretch the field, separate from defensive backs, and put the ball into the end zone. If you are an owner, that translates to more money in your pocket. End of story.

However, as a member of the NFL fraternity, I’m not so sure I would want this guy on my team. Look, I’m all for giving a guy another chance to prove himself, but how dependable will Henry be at practice, in the weight room, and at the stadium on Sundays? If he can’t handle himself off of the field, how can I count on this guy to show up every Sunday? Will he be there for us when we need him to win the game in the fourth quarter? Above all of that, there is something to be said for acting like a professional.  When you put yourself in front of the team, well, you really don’t fit into my plans.

This league isn’t for everyone folks. There are plenty of guys who have the ability to play this great game of professional football, but there are only a few who can handle the responsibilities that go with it. In Cincinnati, however, those responsibilities are swept under the rug, just like the hard disciplinary stance they talked about in the past.