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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 6:58 a.m., Thursday, April 3, 2008

NFL: Bengals cut WR Henry after another arrest

By TERRY KINNEY
Associated Press

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals decided they've had enough of Chris Henry's legal problems, cutting the wide receiver after his fifth arrest since 2005.

Henry was in the Hamilton County jail pending a court appearance today after being accused of punching an 18-year-old man in the face and breaking his car window with a beer bottle. Police said Henry surrendered after a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of misdemeanor assault and criminal damaging.

Bengals president Mike Brown said today in a statement that Henry had forfeited his career with the club.

"His conduct can no longer be tolerated," Brown said.

Henry was suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for the first half of last season for repeatedly violating the league's conduct policy. He was suspended for two games in 2006.

"The Bengals tried for an extended period of time to support Chris and his potentially bright career," Brown said. "We had hoped to guide him toward an appropriate standard of personal responsibility that this community would support and that would allow him to play in the NFL. ... But those efforts end today, as we move on with what is best for our team."

The player's agent, Marvin Frazier, didn't immediately return a call for comment on the Bengals' action. He earlier said Henry gave him a different version of events involving the latest arrest, but declined to elaborate.

"I was told it didn't happen that way," Frazier said.

According to a statement filed with Hamilton County authorities, Henry was identified by Gregory Meyer, whose hometown was not listed, and an eyewitness. The eyewitness claimed Henry punched Meyer on Monday, causing "visible injury." Henry then threw a beer bottle at Meyer's car, breaking the rear passenger window, according to the affidavit.

Henry has had a string of problems with police. He was just in court last week after being ticketed for driving with expired Kentucky license plates. He paid $149 in fines and court costs, according to the Hamilton County Municipal Court records.

Henry was arrested four times between December 2005 and June 2006, for possession of marijuana in northern Kentucky, carrying a concealed weapon in Florida, drunken driving in Ohio and providing alcohol to minors in northern Kentucky. In that case, he served two days in jail in 2006 after pleading guilty to a charge of letting minors drink alcohol in a hotel room he had rented.

Following his NFL suspension, Henry caught 21 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Henry had nine touchdown catches in 13 games in 2006, when he was suspended by the league for two games and benched for another by coach Marvin Lewis because of misconduct.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound receiver was a third-round draft pick from West Virginia.