The Bengals today released troubled wide receiver Chris Henry on the heels of his most recent legal troubles.
“Chris Henry has forfeited his opportunity to pursue a career with the Bengals,” team president Mike Brown said in a statement released by the club. “His conduct can no longer be tolerated. ”
Henry has been accused of punching an 18-year-old man in the face and breaking his car window with a beer bottle, according to court documents filed Wednesday.
Henry, 24, was charged with misdemeanor assault and criminal damaging in the Monday incident in Cincinnati. A warrant for his arrest was issued Wednesday, and Henry surrendered, a police spokesman said.
Henry was being held in the Hamilton County jail pending a court appearance Thursday.
The player’s agent, Marvin Frazier, said Henry gave him a different version of events but declined to elaborate.
“I was told it didn’t happen that way,” Frazier said.
Henry has had a string of problems with police. He most recently was in court last week after being ticketed for driving with expired Kentucky license plates. He paid $149, according to the Hamilton County Municipal Court records.
Henry, who was arrested four times during a 14-month span, was suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for the first half of last season for repeatedly violating the league’s conduct policy.
“The Bengals tried for an extended period of time to support Chris and his potentially bright career,” team president Brown said in his statement. “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. We acknowledge those fans who had concerns about Chris; at the same time we tried to help a young man. But those efforts end today, as we move on with what is best for our team .”
Court records don’t indicate that Henry has hired an attorney in the new case.
According to an affidavit filed in Hamilton County, Henry was identified by Gregory Meyer, whose hometown was not listed, and an eyewitness. The eyewitness claimed Henry punched Meyer, causing “visible injury.” Henry then threw a beer bottle at Meyer’s car, breaking the rear passenger window, according to the affidavit.
After his most recent arrest, Henry pleaded guilty to letting minors drink alcohol in a hotel room he had rented. He served two days in jail.
The Bengals issued a statement expressing frustration with Henry when he was in traffic court a year ago for driving with a suspended license.
Following his NFL suspension, Henry caught 21 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.
