Chris Henry, Dead at 26

Cincinnati Bengals’ troubled wide receiver Chris Henry died of injuries resulting from a motor vehicle accident.  Henry was thrown from the truck bed of a pickup trip on Wednesday and passed away hours later while in intensive care.  Reports of the incident are being pieced together as 911 tapes and police reports have been released.

The lowdown of the situation is that Henry and his fiance, mother of his three kids, got into a verbal altercation outside their home.  Henry was seen jumping on the truck bed by a neighbor and 911 reports suggest that Henry was attempting to enter the pickup truck’s cab while it was in motion.  Henry was thrown from the vehicle and was found unconscious roadside.

Bengals execs and teammates have voiced out their support and kind words for the trouble receiver.  Henry built a reputation as one of the NFL baddest of the bad boys, unleashing a one-man crime spree wherever he walked over a two and half year period. Henry was arrested for marijuana possession, concealment of a weapon, purchasing alcohol for minors, sexual assault (accused) and physical assault & battery charges.  But you wouldn’t believe Henry did any of this if you listen to his teammates.

Let’s get serious.  Chris Henry was a bad guy and his untimely death really doesn’t come as much of a surprise.  If you were placing bets on what NFL player would get killed, Chris Henry was at the top of your list.  But did he have to be?

The NFL is very much at fault here.  Commissioner Roger Goodell believes a rookie seminar prepares these young college kids for the lifestyle change when they make it to the NFL.  It just doesn’t work that way.  Personally having the opportunity to live in the same neighborhood of another fallen NFL player, Marquis Cooper, I’ve seen first hand how a player struggles to handle their stardom.  Fast times and little concern.

Then, to add fuel to the fire, the NFL believes that the best way to deal with these troubled individuals is to suspend them and ban them from practice.  This just worsens the problem in that they guys go out and get in more trouble due to the idle time.  The activities on the field is what keeps them out of trouble.  Send them away just unleashes then on the general public.  Suspensions and fines just don’t work.

What the NFL needs to do is start providing for its players are life coaches.   The game should not be all about Xs, Os, and victories.  By placing life coaches in the locker rooms, the NFL would not only reap the benefit of fewer bad press relations situations but also lengthen and improve the careers of talented athletes such as Chris Henry.

Proof positive example of how a life coach can help get a person grounded again can be seen in Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton.  Considered one of the best high school prospects ever, Hamilton fizzled in the minor leagues as he dealt with substance abuse and depression.  The Cincinnati Reds gave him a second chance, with his mentor life coach in tow named Johnny Narron.  His life coach goes everywhere with Hamilton, keeping him focused on appreciating his athletic talents and advising him on proper life course.  Hamilton credits Narron with all the success he has achieved since his revival.

Could things have been different if the NFL invested a little more care in people like Chris Henry.  Could a life coach changed his destructive path which the NFL profited off.  We’ll never know.  May he rest in peace.