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Post by ♥Jaelynn♥ on Jun 15, 2006 13:13:31 GMT
Ben Roethlisberger has just been released from the hospital, as this is breaking news, i have no further info but it will be posted as it is released by the press
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Post by ♥Jaelynn♥ on Jun 15, 2006 13:14:10 GMT
MIAMI (AP) -- Dwyane Wade's game is built on his ability to blow past defenders and soar to the hoop.
On Wednesday, Miami's star guard could hardly walk.
Getting the Heat back into the NBA finals came at a steep price.
Wade, who had to be driven on a cart to and from an interview session, spent the off day before Game 4 receiving treatment on a bum left knee he injured in a freakish collision with teammate Shaquille O'Neal during the second half of Miami's 98-96 win in Game 3 over the Dallas Mavericks.
"It's very stiff and very sore," said Wade, who scored 42 points. "So the only thing I can continue to do is what I'm ordered to do, and that's a lot of icing and stim (electric stimulation). I'm confident in my training staff that they'll get me as close as I can be to 100 percent.
"So, you know, I'm hoping."
Hope isn't enough in these parts. Considering the stakes in Game 4, prayer may be required of the Heat faithful.
Although Wade wasn't at full speed late in Tuesday's game, he scored 15 points -- 12 during the final 6:34 -- in the fourth quarter to rally Miami from a 13-point hole and pull the Heat within 2-1 in the series.
According to the league, it was the second largest fourth-quarter comeback in finals history, and, it was the latest testament to Wade's soaring status as one of the game's best clutch players.
"He's just fabulous," O'Neal said. "He's a great one. And he's so young with a lot of room to improve. It's going to be fun to watch him."
Wade insists he'll be able to play in Game 4. However, he looked to be a long way from game ready as he grabbed the handrails to steady himself for the short climb up to the interview podium.
He'll be on the floor, no doubt. But how effective will he be?
Wade has been battling an assortment of nagging during these playoffs. He had the flu and a sinus infection in this series, a holdover from the Eastern Conference finals against Detroit when he was briefly hospitalized for dehydration.
Last season, he was slowed by bruised ribs, an injury which prevented the Heat from getting past the Pistons. Now, it's his knee, and at the worst possible time for Miami, which is hoping to even the series.
"I can't even explain it," he said. "You know, it's just happens to me, man. Wrong place, wrong time," Wade said. "I just want them (teammates) to know that hurt or not, I'm going to give it my all, and hopefully that's enough."
He was more than good enough in Game 3. In the final 12 minutes, with a nonexistent margin for error and the stakes as high as possible, Wade was magnificent from start to finish. Seizing control of the game, the 24-year-old played the last 10:56 with five fouls and simply refused to allow the Heat to lose.
He made jumpers. He darted for layups. He grabbed rebounds. He even tipped away the Mavericks' last-second inbounds play.
Like Michael Jordan used to do.
"No one should be compared to MJ, man," he said. "There will only ever be one MJ. That's it. I'm not him."
Wade's virtual one-man show -- his 42 points were the most since Allen Iverson scored 48 and O'Neal 44 in Game 1 of the 2001 finals -- was aided by Dallas' inexplicable collapse down the stretch.
Minutes away from a 3-0 lead in the series, the Mavericks went 2-of-7 from the field, committed five turnovers and were outscored 22-7 during the final 6:15.
"I don't think we let up," guard Jason Terry said. "We just didn't have that killer instinct. It just wasn't there."
The Mavericks aren't panicking. They recognize an opportunity has slipped away, and they're determined not to let the next one sneak by.
"We didn't really come ready to play from the start," said Dirk Nowitzki, who could have tied it at 97-all but missed the second of two free throws with 3.4 seconds left. "We fell behind. We were backpedaling pretty much the whole first half, and we have to make sure we correct that."
Almost since the day he stepped into the league, Wade has been measure against 2003 rookie classmates Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, and the trio has been ordained as the NBA's next generation.
But Wade, undoubtedly helped by playing alongside O'Neal, is the first of the trio to make it to the NBA finals.
"That's one of the things we made a point to him about when we were playing Detroit," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "Our objective was to win a championship this year and with all of the comparisons of that class, I said to him, `OK, be the first one to win one (title).' That might change the opinion on everybody."
No one doubts Wade's toughness, and he promised to do everything he could to get ready for Miami's latest, biggest game of the season.
"I'm confident that the therapy that I do and the massages I get, that I'll feel a lot better," he said. "So I don't think we've reached the (pain-killer) injection stage. I hope not, anyway. I'm scared of needles."
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Post by ♥Jaelynn♥ on Jun 15, 2006 13:14:51 GMT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Left tackle Brad Hopkins retired Wednesday after 13 seasons, deciding to leave the game rather than play for a team other than the one that drafted him.
The Tennessee Titans released Hopkins in March for salary cap reasons. He talked with the New York Jets, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons and an undisclosed fourth team but chose to stay in Nashville with his wife and four children.
"This is the place I grew up," Hopkins said.
He thought about playing another two or three years, or start the next stage of his life in broadcasting.
"These are things I'll be doing the next 20-30 years. Avoiding the inevitable to me didn't make any sense. I've got to get started somewhere. Ultimately, that's why I made the decision I did," Hopkins said.
Nobody started more games at left tackle in the NFL between 1993 and 2005 than Hopkins, who had 188. Only Willie Roaf had more starts at both right and left tackle during those years with 189 at New Orleans and Kansas City. Hopkins' total doesn't include 10 playoff games, including the 2000 Super Bowl.
He finished his career third on the team with 194 games played and second among offensive linemen with 188 starts, trailing only former teammate Bruce Matthews (292).
Coach Jeff Fisher handed Hopkins a sheet of paper Wednesday, joking that it was a $750 fine for being late to his own news conference. Fisher then said it's every player's dream to control his own destiny.
"What he's walking away from is an incredible career," Fisher said.
Hopkins started 15 games in 2005, missing the opener because of a suspension for a domestic dispute with his wife. He helped the Titans rank ninth in the league in passing offense.
The then-Oilers traded up from 19th to 13th overall in 1993 to draft Hopkins out of Illinois, where he was an All-American as a senior.
He finished his career blocking for 14 quarterbacks and 19 running backs -- all with the same team.
Hopkins blocked for the team's all-time leading rusher, helping Eddie George top 10,000 yards, and he was the only left tackle that quarterback Steve McNair had in his first 11 years. McNair was traded last week to the Baltimore Ravens after a long offseason contract standoff.
"I trusted him completely, and that peace of mind that he was protecting my blindside allowed me to be a better quarterback and find the open receivers," McNair in a statement.
Hopkins played one season with Hall of Fame lineman Mike Munchak, then was coached by him the past nine seasons. He also played beside Matthews for the final nine years of his career.
"I really enjoyed playing with him through the years and saw him grow as a player on a yearly basis. It is strange, but since I retired, you sort of took Brad for granted that he was always going to be there. And now that he is retiring, I feel a little older today," Matthews said in a statement.
Hopkins survived the team's relocation from Houston to Tennessee and missed only five games between 1999 and 2003 when the renamed Titans tied for a league-high 56 victories. He missed 14 games in 13 seasons, five in 2004 after he broke bones in his right hand only to play the final three games.
"He's like our shutdown corner playing left tackle," Munchak said.
Hopkins said he didn't have any regrets and said he and his teammates accomplished so much.
"It wasn't that long ago that we were riding convertibles downtown, and it was all this confetti just flying all over the place and the next year battling back to almost the same spot," Hopkins said of the Super Bowl loss and posting the NFL's best record at 13-3 in 2000.
"We're still winners here with the records we've set."
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Post by ♥Jaelynn♥ on Jun 15, 2006 13:15:16 GMT
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Eli Manning says he has a good relationship with Plaxico Burress. His No. 1 receiver wasn't talking about it on Wednesday, turning down pleas from the Giants' public relations staff to talk to the media on the opening day of minicamp.
Burress hasn't said anything since the Giants were beaten 23-0 by the Carolina Panthers in the opening round of the playoffs.
Held without a catch, Burress waved his hands in frustration several times during the game when he felt he was open and Manning didn't get him the ball. The receiver, who was signed as a free agent last year, didn't report to the stadium the following day for a season-ending team meeting.
Burress also did not participate in voluntary workouts in the offseason, opting to train in Florida with tight end Jeremy Shockey.
"You don't have to be best friends with everybody," Manning said after a morning workout Wednesday. "As long as everybody is on the same page and has the same goal of working hard and getting better and winning games, then I think that is fine. We're lockermates. We see each other daily. We have a good relationship."
Manning said he has spoken with Burress a few times in recent weeks, addressing nothing specific. He downplayed Burress' onfield antics in the playoff game.
"He was upset. We didn't have a good game," said Manning, who was 10-for-18 for 113 yards and four interceptions against the Panthers. "Everybody on this team is competitive and wants to win and do well. A lot of people were frustrated and that's how he expressed it."
Coach Tom Coughlin said he spoke with Burress about missing the team meeting after the season ended. Coughlin would not comment on what was said.
During the morning workout on Wednesday, Manning found Burress with a pass on a slant route, and he hooked up with Shockey on a couple of plays.
Shockey showed up for the minicamp sporting a black eye. He blamed it on a training accident in Florida last week.
He also said he thought there was plenty of leadership on the team.
"The older people, like Tiki Barber and Michael Strahan, when those guys talk, those are the guys I listen to, the guys who have been here eight, nine, 10, 11 or 12 years," he said. "Those are the leaders on this team."
Center Shaun O'Hara felt too much was being made of Burress.
"We have a lot of things going on," O'Hara said. "No way on the first day of minicamp are we worried about team chemistry."
He also downplayed the absence of Burress and Shockey from the voluntary workouts, saying no one wants to work out with somebody who doesn't want to be there.
O'Hara said the players were more interested in Shockey's black eye.
"I think we were all wondering whether coach gave it to him," O'Hara said.
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Post by ♥Jaelynn♥ on Jun 15, 2006 13:29:13 GMT
Rumors have been swirling about the Pacers and a possible trade of Jermaine O'Neal. The All-Star forward spoke exclusively to 24-Hour News 8 about his future with the team. He wants to make it very clear that his future is here in Indianapolis.
O'Neal has been in the middle of a lot of trade rumors. Several media outlets have reported that the Pacers are trying to work a deal to send their leading scorer to Toronto.
"There's no truth behind that what so ever, there's no truth at all. I've met with the front office time and time again and talked to them by phone, talked to them just yesterday in person. For the people here, that doesn't want Jermaine O'Neal to be here next year, I apologize because I'm going to be here next year," said O'Neal.
Last year was one of the most frustrating seasons in Pacer history, and O'Neal has always been a player to take full blame. But he admits he's not alone.
"Last year it was a failure on everybody, from Larry Bird, Donny Walsh, Jermaine O'Neal, Rick Carlisle, and the rest of the Indiana Pacers. Everybody has to take fault to that, and I'm sure everybody will take fault to that," explained O'Neal.
And what about Rick Carlisle, who only has one year left on his contract?
"I like Rick Carlisle a lot. He's a hell of a coach. But it's unfair to the organization, to Rick or to the city to comment about that situation," said O'Neal.
We asked the All-Star if he wanted to return next year.
"Yeah, I do, mainly because there's a lot of unfinished business here. You never want to leave on a negative tone, and there's a lot here that support me, that have been here through the good times and the bad."
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Post by ♥Jaelynn♥ on Jun 15, 2006 13:33:01 GMT
Ben Roethlisberger has just been released from the hospital, as this is breaking news, i have no further info but it will be posted as it is released by the press PITTSBURGH - Ben Roethlisberger was released from a hospital late Wednesday night after spending more than two days recovering from facial injuries he sustained in a motorcycle accident. The Steelers quarterback left Mercy Hospital a little before midnight. It was unclear where he went, said team spokesman Dave Lockett. Doctors had encouraging words Wednesday about Roethlisberger, whose motorcycle collided with a car at a Pittsburgh intersection Monday morning. A second round of tests again showed no brain injuries, although he has a concussion. Roethlisberger got out of his bed to greet visitors Wednesday, less than 48 hours after being admitted to a hospital located only a few blocks from the crash site. Players who visited with Roethlisberger said he is upbeat, and they are convinced he will be back quickly and with no diminished skills. Counting the playoffs, the Steelers have a 27-4 record with Roethlisberger at quarterback and have advanced to two AFC championship games and won a Super Bowl during his two seasons as a starter. His release was kept a secret from the Pittsburgh media, which has stationed reporters and cameras at the hospital each day. The hospital released a statement saying that it "respected the wishes and privacy of Mr. Roethlisberger and his family" by not confirming his discharge until about nine hours later. Because Roethlisberger's multiple facial fractures, broken nose and broken upper and lower jaw are being held in place by screws and 2-inch titanium plates, he can eat soft foods — and not be restricted to liquids — during an estimated six- to eight-week recovery period. "We take a titanium plate, bend it and adapt it to the contours of the facial bones and then secure it in place with screws," surgeon Daniel Pituch said. "This kind of state-of-the-art technology allowed us to successfully treat Mr. Roethlisberger's facial fractures." As a result, the 240-pound Roethlisberger probably won't lose as much weight as he would have on an all-liquid diet. The Steelers have not given a timetable for his return, but they are optimistic he will be ready for their Sept. 7 opener against Miami. One of the team's concerns was how long Roethlisberger would need to regain his weight and strength after being unable to work out for what might be an extended period.
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Post by irena on Sept 5, 2009 16:28:20 GMT
Do you talk about soccer or ragby. By the way I`m angree we did lose from Scotland today on soccer game for World Championship in South Africa and now blow for sure chance to go there on that competion. WE ARE LOOSERS IDIOTS
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Post by ♥Jaelynn♥ on Dec 16, 2009 5:08:48 GMT
i dont but i can =)
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Minnesota Vikings back-up linebacker and special teams player Erin Henderson has been suspended for four games for violating league policy on performance-enhancing substances, the NFL said Tuesday.
The suspension is effective immediately and covers the final three regular-season games and the first playoff game for the postseason-bound Vikings (11-2).
The NFL does not specify substances that players test positive for.
Henderson, playing in his second game of the season last Sunday, made two tackles on kickoff returns against Cincinnati and recovered a fumble by a team mate on a punt return.
He is the younger brother of Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson, who is out indefinitely after breaking his left leg last week.
Minnesota promoted linebacker J Leman from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
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Post by ♥Jaelynn♥ on Dec 16, 2009 5:09:13 GMT
NEW YORK – The blockbuster trade sending Roy Halladay to Philadelphia and Cliff Lee to Seattle could be completed Wednesday, and it's become a four-team swap that involves Toronto shipping a prospect to Oakland.
The Blue Jays would send Halladay and $6 million to the Phillies for three minor leaguers: catcher Travis d'Arnaud, right-hander Kyle Drabek and outfielder Michael Taylor.
Philadelphia would also deal Lee to the Mariners for a trio of prospects: right-hander Phillippe Aumont, outfielder Tyson Gillies and right-hander Juan Ramirez.
Toronto would then trade Taylor to the Athletics for third baseman Brett Wallace, obtained by Oakland last July from St. Louis in the deal for outfielder Matt Holliday.
Halladay would receive a $60 million, three-year contract extension through 2013 with the Phillies, a deal that would include a 2014 option.
Details of the nine players involved in the swap of Cy Young Award winners, first reported by ESPN.com and prospectinsider.com, were confirmed by several baseball officials familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade was not yet final. Teams were still reviewing medical records and going through the final details.
New Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos moved quickly to deal Halladay, who will make $15.75 million next year and had been eligible for free agency after the season. The deal fell into place at about the same time Boston — which also had been interested — reached a preliminary agreement with free-agent pitcher John Lackey on a five-year contract worth $80 million to $87.5 million. Lackey's deal will be announced Wednesday along with outfielder Mike Cameron's contract in separate news conferences, the Red Sox said late Tuesday night.
"Roy Halladay is one of the better pitchers in baseball," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. "I wish Alex would have traded him to the American League."
Lee, who had both of the Phillies' World Series wins, also is eligible for free agency after next season, when he will make $9 million. He is not getting an extension as part of the trade.
His agent, Darek Braunecker, said he had just begun discussions on a contract extension with Philadelphia.
"At no point did we make any financial demands or price him out of the market, so to speak," Braunecker said. "We were in the very, very preliminary stages of negotiations."
In a deal that was completed, the Chicago White Sox acquired leadoff man and left fielder Juan Pierre and $10.5 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers for two players to be named.
"They already have a good team in place," Pierre said. "They've been accustomed to winning over the last four or five years. I'm looking forward to getting out there on the field on a regular basis."
The 32-year-old hit .308 with 30 stolen bases, 57 runs and a .365 on-base percentage in 145 games with the Dodgers last year, getting steady playing time when Manny Ramirez was suspended 50 games for violating baseball's drug policy. Once Ramirez returned, Pierre became a reserve again.
Halladay, the 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner, had a 2.78 ERA in 2008 and a 2.79 ERA last season in the American League, and will be expected to allow even fewer runs in the NL, where pitchers bat.
His arrival figures to strengthen the Phillies to the detriment of their NL East rivals, but weaken challenges to the World Series champion Yankees and Red Sox in the AL East.
In the AL West, Lee joins a Seattle rotation that already includes young ace Felix Hernandez. The Mariners added speedy Chone Figgins to their lineup from the division rival Los Angeles Angels and still are seeking power to replace third baseman Adrian Beltre.
"We've had a lot of discussions going on, a lot of balls we've been juggling," general manager Jack Zduriencik said.
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Post by ♥Jaelynn♥ on Dec 17, 2009 1:57:55 GMT
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry suffered serious injuries after falling out of the back of a pickup truck during a domestic dispute with his fiancee, police said Wednesday.
Henry was found in the road in south Charlotte "apparently suffering life-threatening injuries," according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. Henry was transported to Carolinas Medical Center, the local trauma unit, but spokesman Scott White said he was not listed in hospital records and had no other information.
Police spokesman Robert Fey said officers were stationed near the 26-year-old Henry's hospital room. He had no information Henry's condition, but said he was alive.
Police said a dispute began at a home just before noon and Henry jumped into the bed of the pickup truck as his unidentified fiancee was driving away from the residence.
"The domestic situation continued between the operator and Mr. Henry," the police said in a statement. "At some point while she was driving, Mr. Henry came out of the back of the vehicle."
Henry was found on a residential street about a half mile away from the home when police were called to the scene after a medic report that a man was down.
Henry's agent, Kenneth Rush, did not immediately return phone and e-mail messages. Fey wouldn't name the woman and said no charges would be filed on Wednesday.
Henry was away from the team after breaking his left forearm during a win over Baltimore on Nov. 8. He had surgery and was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Charlotte is home to his fiancee's parents, the Bengals said.
Team spokesman Jack Brennan said he had little information other than Henry was badly hurt.
"We are aware he was in an accident and that his injuries are very serious," Brennan said. "We are obviously staying in touch with the situation and are ready to offer whatever assistance we can."
Henry is in the final year of his contract with the Bengals, who let him go after his fifth arrest following the 2007 season. Owner Mike Brown then brought him back a few months later, signing him to a two-year deal, and Henry had stayed out of trouble since his return.
A deep threat, he was fourth among Bengals receivers this season with 12 catches for 236 yards and two touchdowns at the time of his injury.
The Bengals' third-round pick from West Virginia in 2005, the speedy Henry was a key part of Cincinnati's playoff team as a rookie. He's caught 119 passes for 1,826 yards and 21 touchdowns in five seasons, but has also been plagued by off-field woes.
He was suspended for two games by the league in 2006 and the first eight games of 2007. The Bengals released him following his fifth arrest that offseason, but Brown decided to bring him back during training camp over the objections of coach Marvin Lewis.
Henry had to miss the first four games of 2008, his punishment for the offseason arrest on an assault charge. The charge was dropped after his trial ended in a hung jury.
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Post by ♥Jaelynn♥ on Dec 17, 2009 17:51:59 GMT
R.I.P. CHRIS HENRY
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry died Thursday, a day after falling out of the back of a pickup truck during what police said was a domestic dispute with his fiancee.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Henry died at 6:36 a.m. Henry was 26.
"We knew him in a different way than his public persona," Bengals owner Mike Brown said of the player who was suspended five times during his career. "He had worked through the troubles in his life and had finally seemingly reached the point where everything was going to blossom. And he was going to have the future we all wanted for him. It's painful to us. We feel it in our hearts, and we will miss him."
Police spokeswoman Rosalyn Harrington said homicide detectives have been assigned to the case but had no further information.
Henry was rushed to the hospital Wednesday after being found on a residential road. Police said the dispute began at a home about a half-mile away, and Henry jumped into the bed of the pickup truck as his fiancee was driving away from the residence.
Police said at some point when she was driving, Henry "came out of the back of the vehicle." Police have not released the 911 tapes, and Harrington wouldn't say if the woman, whom police would not identify, was present at the scene when police arrived.
Henry is engaged to Loleini Tonga, and the couple has been raising three children. Tonga's MySpace page identifies herself as "Mrs. C. Henry" and has a picture of her next to a person who appears to be Henry. She also has a post from Tuesday talking about buying wedding rings. A neighbor said Wednesday that the Tonga family owns the home where police say the incident began. Charlotte is home to his fiancee's parents.
"We ask that you keep Chris' family — especially the young children he leaves behind — in your prayers," Henry's agent, Andy Simms of PlayersRep Sports said in a statement. "It is tragic when a life is taken so young. He was a man just realizing his potential, not just in football, but in life."
Authorities have not announced the cause of death. Mecklenburg County medical examiner investigator Carol Cormier said they were expecting to receive the body later Thursday.
The Bengals will wear a helmet sticker Sunday against San Diego to remember Henry.
When the players received word Henry had died, quarterback Carson Palmer called them together in the locker room and said they should dedicate the game and rest of the season to Henry and the wife of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who died unexpectedly during the season.
Henry was away from the Bengals after breaking his left forearm during a win over Baltimore on Nov. 8. He had surgery and was placed on season-ending injured reserve following the game.
"We are greatly saddened by today's tragic news about the loss of Chris Henry," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chris' family, including his Bengals family. We have been in contact with the Bengals to offer our support through this difficult time.
"I ask you to keep Chris Henry and his family in your thoughts today."
Throughout his career, his temper and poor decisions got him in trouble.
He was ejected from a game and suspended for another while at West Virginia, where former coach Rich Rodriguez told Henry that he was an embarrassment to himself and the program. His reputation was already costing him — the Bengals were the only NFL team to bring him in for a pre-draft visit in 2005.
They found that his demeanor didn't match his reputation. Henry was shy and spoke in a quiet voice. They warned him that he had to stay in control if he was going to stay in the NFL. Then, they picked him in the third round.
In a sense, it was already a second chance.
"I'm worth the chance," Henry said, when he showed up the following weekend for a rookie minicamp. "I'm just happy they took me."
Henry become a vital part of the offense as a rookie, helping the Bengals reach the playoffs in 2005 with his ability to run past defenders to grab long passes. In the final month of the season, he also showed his other side, getting arrested for marijuana possession. After a playoff loss to Pittsburgh, he was arrested on a gun charge in Florida.
Henry and former Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones became the league's two most trouble-bound players. Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended both in 2007 — Jones for a full season, Henry for half of it — as part of a toughening of the league's conduct policy.
When Henry was arrested for a fifth time following that season on an assault charge, the Bengals decided they'd had enough. At his arraignment on April 3, 2008, Municipal Court Judge Bernie Bouchard called Henry "a one-man crime wave." He was released by the Bengals the same day.
It was a jolt to Henry, who had dreamed of an NFL career since high school, when he got the NFL logo tattooed on the back of his right hand. No team showed an interest in bringing him back. His career seemed finished.
Then, Brown — who refers to himself as "a redeemer" — changed his mind and gave him another chance.
"If you only knew him by hearsay, you'd think he's some kind of ogre," Brown said, during the Bengals' appearance on HBO's "Hard Knocks" series this summer. "It's not true. He's a good person. When you see him up close, you'll find that you'll like him. He'll be a soft-spoken, pleasant person."
This time, Henry seemed determined to stay out of trouble. After only 19 catches and two touchdowns in 12 games in the 2008 season, he set about making himself a topflight receiver again. He got into top shape and worked out with teammates in the offseason, showing more resolve than at any point in his career.
Henry also changed his personal life, spending more time with his fiancee and the three children they are raising. Teammates noticed a pronounced change in his demeanor.
"He's a great kid with a great heart," quarterback Carson Palmer said as training camp started. "He's changed his life around. He ran into some trouble, made some bad decisions, and realized that. He's sorry for them, apologized for them, and has done everything he can to make himself a better person. I'm just proud of him."
Before the 2009 season, Henry got a new tattoo that matched his new outlook. Below his left ear, in flowing one-inch script, was the world "Blessed."
"I kind of felt like I dug myself out of the hole and started doing the right things," Henry said in an interview with The Associated Press as training camp opened. "People say, 'How you feeling now Chris? You doing all right?' I just tell them I'm blessed. That's why I got it."
He caught a touchdown pass in each of Cincinnati's four preseason games. A thigh injury slowed him early in the season, and he had 12 catches for 236 yards — his 19.7-yard average per catch leads the team — when he broke his left arm during a win over Baltimore on Nov. 22, ending his season.
"He was doing everything right," receiver Chad Ochocinco said. "My grandma always says you never question the man upstairs on decisions he makes. Everyone makes mistakes, but I don't see how Chris was supposed to go already, especially when he was on the right path. Other than that, he's going to be missed."
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Post by ♥Jaelynn♥ on Dec 18, 2009 6:31:31 GMT
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Peyton Manning completed every pass early and one big one late, exactly what the Indianapolis Colts needed to stay unbeaten.
Manning threw for 308 yards and four touchdowns, including a 65-yarder to Reggie Wayne to go ahead for good, and the Colts beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 35-31 Thursday night to improve to 14-0 for the first time in franchise history.
The wild game on a cool night included 714 yards, 43 first downs, 10 lead changes, six punts, several big plays and just two turnovers.
"I thought today was a great test against a good team," Manning said. "Feel real good about the win."
The Jaguars (7-7) had a chance to win it in the closing minutes, but David Garrard overthrew Mike Thomas on a third-and-10 play with about a minute to play. Jacob Lacey intercepted the ball, and the Colts ran out the clock.
Indianapolis extended its NFL-record winning streak in the regular season to 23 and became the third 14-0 team in league history, joining the 1972 Miami Dolphins and 2007 New England Patriots. New Orleans can join the list with a victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night.
Jacksonville lost for the third time in the four games and no longer controls its fate in the AFC wild-card race.
They have Manning to thank for this one.
He completed his first 13 passes and was nearly as efficient as he was in last year's game in Jacksonville, when he completed 17 in a row.
Manning finished 23 of 30, picking apart Jacksonville's secondary early and often. Wayne caught five passes for 132 yards. Dallas Clark had seven receptions for 95 yards and two scores.
The Jaguars, who have lost eight of 10 in the series, got in a shootout with Manning & Co., which turned out to be a huge mistake.
Garrard was 23 of 40 for 223 yards with three touchdowns. Maurice Jones-Drew ran 27 times for 110 yards and a score. But once the Jaguars got behind and abandoned the running game, they had trouble sustaining drives.
All that talk about Indy resting some of its key players turned out to be pretty just speculation. Sure, defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis played sparingly, but Manning, Wayne, Clark and the other stars played the entire game.
And did most of the damage.
The dagger came with 5:23 remaining, when Manning found Wayne streaking down the sideline for the 65-yarder. Safety Reggie Nelson seemed to bite on a pump fake, allowing Wayne to get behind the coverage. It was the biggest play in a second half that didn't quite live up to the opening 30 minutes.
"Reggie just used his speed," Manning said. "What a great job once he caught the ball to get into the end zone."
The first half was a back-and-forth affair that included 336 yards, 57 plays, 38 points, 23 first downs, one penalty, no turnovers and not a single punt. The half took a little more than an hour to play, so fast that the league's broadcast representative spent the final few minutes scrambling to plug in all the TV timeouts.
Manning was perfect, completing 12 of 12 passes for 116 yards and had touchdown passes to Clark and Austin Collie. Clark made a sliding grab in the back of the end zone for a 6-yard score and a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter. Collie's catch, a 23-yarder on a seam route that he briefly bobbled at the goal line, put Indy ahead 21-17 with 35 seconds remaining.
The Jaguars got in field-goal range just before halftime, but Josh Scobee came up well short on a 57-yard attempt.
Jacksonville played a near perfect half on offense. Garrard completed 12 of 16 passes for 97 yards, and one of his best plays of the season resulted in a touchdown.
He faked a handoff, rolled left on a bootleg, then spun around and headed across the field. Maurice Jones-Drew, who had been blocking on the play, released toward the end zone and Garrard lofted a perfect pass for the score.
Jones-Drew, who averaged 69 yards rushing the last four games, ran 14 times for 73 yards in the first half. There had been rumors that 5-foot-7 dynamo was slowed by a sore knee. He looked fully healthy against Indy.
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Post by irena on Dec 19, 2009 10:02:26 GMT
Is this from daily news paper?
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Post by Holly's Shadow on Dec 31, 2009 5:52:45 GMT
Do you talk about soccer or ragby. By the way I`m angree we did lose from Scotland today on soccer game for World Championship in South Africa and now blow for sure chance to go there on that competion. WE ARE LOOSERS IDIOTS I love soccer! I can talk about it all day. lol Ps. Don't worry,.. the Bears (not from soccer, but football) are bigger idiots this season. We suck.
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Post by joellafaith on Jan 14, 2010 15:43:15 GMT
i like the dallas cowboys
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