Chris Henry's Legacy Lives On

((HT: NFL on CBS/CBSSports.com))

Despite his personal issues and/or demons, the violent death of Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was tragic last year.

The impact of his passing has been felt by a lot of other surrounding families in the Carolinas because of Henry's mother's decision to donate his organs for transplantation.

This is two things: required viewing and a hankie alert...
A well-put together piece that reminds us of all that we need to be thankful for...

Chris Henry Had Early Stages Of Brain Disease....

This will probably get the attention of everyone playing in the NFL and everyone who has played in the NFL.

Chris Henry, a receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, who had died after falling from a truck in a domestic dispute in December of 2009, has been found to already been suffering from a brain issue that doctors are finding more and more frequently in football players.

The disease, CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, is a progressive brain disease that has been found in quite a few former players, all of whom died young.

Doctors, think, emphasis on think, that the disease is caused from traumatic brain injuries such as helmet to helmet hits. However, the previous cases had been primarily in older players who played more physical positions such as on the line.

Henry however was 26, and he was a wide receiver and not known as being particularly physical.

Much more on the report from the New York Times RIGHT HERE

((Chris Henry//Courtesy: Cincinnati Enquirer))

The NFL and other sports leagues have finally, after years of ignoring the issue of concussions and long term brain injury effects, started to addressing the issue. At this point, they haven't reacted to this finding, though the doctors from West Virginia University who did the forensic exam are going to discuss what they found later in the day on Monday.

Here's Maureen O'Boyle and Jeff Atkinson with the early run down in Charlotte
Thanks to our friends at WBTV-CBS3

Chris Henry's Fiancee Won't Face Charges

Loleini Tonga, the fiancee' of Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Chris Henry won't be facing charges in regards to his death.

Charlotte Police say they don't have any evidence that Tonga was driving recklessly or speeding when Henry fell or leaped out of the truck she was driving. Officially, according to the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner, Henry's death was accidental blunt force trauma to the head from a fall.

((Chris Henry, Loleini Tonga and their Kids//Photo Courtesy: Barry D. Scheffel/Dayton Daily News))

The story from the Charlotte Observer RIGHT HERE

It brings to an end what can only be considered a very unfortunate story. There does not appear to be a clear cut explanation as to why Tonga was driving down the road or why Henry was in the bed of the Ford F-15o pickup truck. There probably at this point, will never be an answer to that question.

Tonga is left to raise the couple's three children and the Bengals have played there last several games as though they are still in shock from the whole thing. They face the New York Jets in the First Round of the NFL Playoffs on Saturday.

NFL Doesn't Want Ochocinco to honor Chris Henry

Chad Ochocinco has been a regular Sports/News item because it seems that he gets fined by the NFL almost every week. Generally it is something innocuous or all in fun, this weekend, he wants to do something that is very serious...in a respectful way.

Mr. Ochocinco would like to honor his recently deceased friend and teammate Chris Henry by wearing his jersey for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers. We think that this is a very honorable act, something that would let people remember Henry.

((Chad wears Henry's practice jersey on Thursday//Courtesy: Ernest Coleman/Cincinnati Enquirer))

However, it is a violation of the NFL rules. And from what the various reports on this subject are saying, if he wears it, he will be fined. The NFL Players Association earlier today offered to pay for the fine, which is great, except as it turns out they are not allowed to. The NFLPA has already gathered a fund together to help Henry's 3 children and was willing to match the fine with an additional contribution to the fund.

There is more on the story...from ESPN's Adam Schefter RIGHT HERE
The Bengals speak on honoring and being motivated to win for Henry...from the Cincinnati Enquirer RIGHT HERE

The whole thing is just silly. We would say that we don't understand the NFL's unwillingness to let Chad do this, but we are talking about the NFL. This is the same organization that fines players for wearing there socks an inch too high or slightly off the required colors. While we understand a "Uniform" policy we think that in this case nobody will be harmed and it will help the Bengals cope with the loss of a fallen teammate...and friend.

Enjoy Chad at his finest...Courtesy: The You Tube

Witness Says Henry Threatened To Jump From Truck

((HT: MYFoxDC/Fox 5 Washington))

Witness Larry Hardy says moments before Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry was found lying on the road, Henry threatened to jump from the truck to commit suicide.

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, Loleini Tonga .

Here's Hardy's interview with FoxCharlotte

BREAKING NEWS: Bengals WR Chris Henry Dies

OSG Sports has learned that Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Chris Henry has died, he was 26.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say Henry died at 6:36 a.m. Thursday morning from injuries received when he fell out the back of what is believed to be his or his fiancee's pickup truck.

Henry, who had spent a good portion of his early NFL career in trouble had begun to show signs of turning his life around. He was injured in a game earlier in the season and had been placed on injured reserve.

His teammates and coaches on the Bengals held a press conference this morning where they spoke of Henry...the Cincinnati Enquirer reports RIGHT HERE

Read the story on Henry's transition to Family Man also from the Enquirer RIGHT HERE

More reaction from WCPO-TV RIGHT HERE.

The tough part for the Bengals is that they are heading to the West Coast in the morning in preparation for an AFC Showdown with the San Diego Chargers. It will be up to Coach Marvin Lewis and his staff to deal with what has already been a tough season. You'll remember just a few weeks ago the Bengals had to deal with the death of Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer's wife. They rallied and beat the Baltimore Ravens.

Here is more reaction from the Bengals including Chad Ochocinco
((HT: WCPO-TV))

PM UPDATE Chris Henry: "Not Expected To Survive"

That's the word form sources close to the Chris Henry accident in Charlotte Wednesday evening...

WBTV's sources claim Henry has taken "a turn for the worse..."
Steve Crump is at CMC with the latest...


Henry's fiancee, identified now as Laleini Tonga, was driving the vehicle.
Tonga is cooperating with police...

Homicide investigators were on the scene of the accident, initially, and if the situation continues to deteriorate may come into play sooner than desired by all parties involved...

More when we know more...

Chris Henry's Injuries "Life-Threatening"

((HT: WBTV-CBS3 Charlotte))

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry suffered what have been termed "life threatening" injuries as the result of a car accident involving his fiancee this afternoon in Charlotte.

Henry, according to some reports, was involved in a domestic dispute and jumped in the back of a pick-up truck driven by the fiancee.

At some point, around a curve in a northwest Charlotte neighborhood, Henry was injured after being jettisoned from the rear of the truck.

Henry was found in the middle of the road by Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Police and was transferred to Carolinas Medical Center.

He was placed on injured-reserve after the Bengals November 8th game against the Baltimore Ravens, and was in the Charlotte area since it's the home of the fiancee and her family.

Here's coverage from our friends at WBTV...

Maureen O'Boyle ((yes, that Maureen O'Boyle)) tosses to a live shot that was in the dark and was done purely for the sake of having a live shot...