Bengals WR Henry injured in domestic dispute

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry is "battling for his life" after falling out of the back of a pickup truck Wednesday during what police described as a domestic dispute with his fiancee.

Henry was found in the road in south Charlotte "apparently suffering life-threatening injuries," according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. Police spokesman Robert Fey said officers were stationed near the 26-year-old Henry's hospital room. He had no information on Henry's condition, but said he was alive.

"We ask everyone to pray for Chris," agent Andy Simms of PlayersRep Sports said in a statement. "We also ask that you respect the privacy of Chris' family. Chris is indeed battling for his life tonight, and our thoughts and prayers (are) with him during this extremely difficult time."

Police said a dispute began at a home just before noon and Henry jumped into the bed of the pickup truck as his fiancee — whom they did not identify by name — 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 from the home when police were called to the scene. Fey wouldn't identify the woman and said no charges would be filed Wednesday.

Henry is engaged to Loleini Tonga, and the couple has been raising three children.

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 following the game. Charlotte is home to his fiancee's parents.

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. Henry had stayed out of trouble since his return, turning into a feel-good story that got fans rooting for him.

In an interview with The Cincinnati Enquirer in October, Henry credited his fiancee for helping him straighten out his life, saying, "She's been a big help. She's been right here with me and going through things and helping out on my side. We have the kids, and she has my back with everything I've needed."

From the start, his career has been sidetracked by off-the-field problems.

Henry repeatedly got in trouble at West Virginia, where former Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez told him that he was an embarrassment to himself and the program.

Most teams to shied away from Henry in the 2005 draft. Cincinnati was the only one that brought him in for a visit, and warned him that he had to stay out of trouble if he was going to make it in the NFL. Then, the Bengals drafted him in the third round.

His ability to run past defenders made him an integral part of the Bengals' run to the playoffs in 2005. He caught Carson Palmer's only pass in a playoff loss to Pittsburgh — both of them were hurt on the play.

His rookie season also marked the beginning of his problems in the NFL. He was arrested for marijuana possession in December 2005, and again on a weapons charge a month later in Florida. He was arrested four times in all, drawing repeated suspensions — two games in 2006, the first half of the 2007 season — for violating the league's conduct policy.

When he was arrested for a fifth time after the 2007 season, the Bengals released Henry. Over the objection of coach Marvin Lewis, Brown changed his mind and gave Henry another chance, offering a two-year contract before the 2008 season began.

After serving a four-game suspension to start the 2008 season, he returned and caught 19 passes in the last 12 games, becoming an afterthought in the offense. He spent the offseason getting in shape and working out so he could become a top receiver again. He impressed coaches and teammates with his newfound determination to resurrect his career.

Before the start of the season, he got a tattoo that said "Blessed" below his left ear, a reminder that he's gotten plenty of extra chances.

"I don't live the way I did in the past," Henry said, in an interview with The Associated Press during training camp. "I kind of plan my days out and take it one day at a time and stay away from the wrong people. I'm not partying anymore. I'm just focused on football right now and my family. I don't associate with the same people. I've completely changed everything."

A thigh injury limited him early in the season. He had 12 catches for 236 yards and a pair of touchdowns before he broke his arm

Cheerleader Exploitation? Judge for Yourself!

Cheerleader Exploitation: Cheer-babes dancing in short skirts, or posing for swimsuit calendars, is not exploitation. After all, you're supposed to look at the cheerleaders! Professional athletics is foremost a form of entertainment, and the scantily-clad dancing girl has a long history as integral to entertainment in theatrical arts as well as sport.

It is, however, objectionable if everyone involved in an NFL contest is making buckets of money, except for the cheerleaders. That's the case, and that is a form of exploitation. The NFL will have about $8 billion in revenue this season, and Green Bay, the one team that discloses financial information (the Packers are publicly owned), showed a profit of $20 million last year. There's plenty of money in professional football. But only crumbs go to the cheerleaders. NFL teams are believed to pay cheerleaders approximately $100 per game. (Several teams used to post cheerleader audition FAQs on their Web sites that included such info.) Some throw in two game tickets. Don't spend it all in the same place!

Cheerleader squads practice twice a week, and in most cases, cheerleaders are not paid for practicing. Some are charged to audition. They make unpaid charity appearances. In order to become cheerleaders, they sign away "subsidiary rights" to their images -- use in advertising, on swimsuit calendars and so on. Being a NFL cheerleader is glamorous and can entail exciting travel. Many women who take up this very time-consuming hobby would rather be cheerleaders receiving only token pay than not be cheerleaders. But that should not be the choice. "Do it cheap or we'll find someone else who will" is manipulation. Cheerleaders are professional performers and deserve decent pay.

This month, prominent television ads have run for NFL Sunday Ticket, the league's premium package. In the foreground Peyton Manning talks, while NFL cheerleaders from the Broncos, Cowboys and other teams dance in the background. The joke of the ad is that Manning thinks the screen is showing a game, but actually, what everyone really wants is to look at the cheerleaders. Manning is receiving a hefty endorsement fee for appearing in the ad. Several of the cheerleaders shown in the ad, especially from the Cowboys, can be identified as individuals. Are they also receiving endorsement fees?

I asked DirecTV, which hired Manning for this ad. Spokeswoman Jade Ekstedt told me the company's licensing agreement with the NFL includes the right to use cheerleader images in promotion. That is, DirecTV has already paid on its end; any cheerleaders' promotional fees must come from the league or the teams. So are there such fees? "I recommend that you speak directly to the NFL regarding how the NFL or the individual teams determine compensation for cheerleaders," Ekstedt said. So I asked the NFL. Spokesman Brian McCarthy told me to call DirecTV. Then I asked the Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple. He told me, "You'd probably need to inquire with the NFL or DirecTV on that." I asked Dalrymple to confirm or deny that the cheerleaders did not receive endorsement fees; he replied, "As a club policy we do not disclose details of commercial endorsements involving members of the organization." In no case did I inquire about how much anyone involved might be receiving. I asked only whether NFL cheerleaders do or do not receive endorsement income when their images are used in advertising. The league, the team involved and the advertiser all would not answer. You'd think if the answer was yes, they'd be happy to say that.

The current Sunday Ticket ads are hardly the only ones in which cheerleader images are used, and likely without pay to the cheerleader -- I cite this ad simply because it's the current example. Peyton Manning's sure getting a fee: In almost all cases that an NFL player or coach's image is used in advertising, even if the image is from stock footage, he gets a fee. The legal presumption is usually that any person whose identity can be determined must be paid to have his or her image used in advertising, since use of a person's image implies endorsement of the product. Recently Woody Allen sued a company that used his likeness in an ad without conferring a fee; the company settled with Allen for $5 million.

For an $8 billion enterprise to pay cheerleaders $100 a game, then use their images in national advertising without further pay, ought to embarrass the NFL. True, players' contracts include a clause that signs away some of their rights to their images under some circumstances. But players receive an average of $1.9 million per year. What they're signing is a good deal. What the cheerleaders are signing is exploitation.

This article is from ESPN's Tuesday Morning Quarterback by Gregg Easterbrook

Big WR News: Jets Get Edwards - 49ers Get Crabtree

Michael Crabtree has signed a 6 year contract with the San Francisco 49ers and Braylon Edwards has been traded to the New York Jets according to Jason La Canfora (as indicated on the NFL Network.)

The New York Jets reached an agreement with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday to acquire troubled but talented wide receiver Braylon Edwards. The Jets sent wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik and undisclosed draft choices to the Browns for the deep threat they had been lacking. Edwards will combine with Jerricho Cotchery to give rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez two proven playmakers as starting wide receivers

Dallas Cowboys Signs Running Back

The Cowboys signed running back Chauncey Washington to their practice squad, cutting fullback Julius Crosslin. Washington played six games for the Jaguars last season. Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis was the special teams coach in Jacksonville last season.

Even with the uncertainty over Marion Barber's availability this week, because of his strained quadriceps, the Cowboys likely would have signed Washington even if Barber had been 100 percent.

Good special teams players always can find a roster spot! It's not like he has any chance of being the next "Marion Barber!"

KC QB Matt Cassel Blindsided By Chiefs Coach

Chiefs coach Todd Haley liked some of what Matt Cassel Matt Cassel Fantasy News did on Sunday, but there wasn't enough of it for Haley to say that Cassel will be Kansas City's starting quarterback for the rest of the season and beyond.

Haley said that, like all other positions, the quarterback job will remain available to the most proficient player-regardless of salary, name or background.

"You've got to ultimately do what gives your team the best chance to win," Haley said Tuesday. "If that means another quarterback being in there other than Matt Cassel Matt Cassel Fantasy News, then sign me up."

Wow - that will surely build a young mans confidence!

LaDainian Tomlinson - Just A Sprain

Ladainian Tomlinson did not practice and wore a protective boot on his right ankle yesterday.

He said he holds out hope he will play Sunday while also acknowledging it is possible he will miss just his second regular season start in eight-plus seasons.

"It's not anything that is going to keep me out for a long time," Tomlinson said. "We'll just wait and see how it plays out... I'm taking it day by day. It is a sprain and that's all it is."

Fantasy Football Player News: Good news to people who picked up Darren Sproles (get him in a game early in the season) AND who hold LT (he should only miss one week.)

Vikings Release Leading Receiver

The Minnesota Vikings have released wide receiver Bobby Wade, who led the team in receptions the past two years, and replaced him with free agent Greg Lewis.

With first-round draft pick Percy Harvin joining the team, the Vikings had fewer opportunities for Wade, a six-year NFL veteran.

Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice are the other two receivers atop the depth chart heading into Sunday's opener at Cleveland. Berrian has been slowed by a hamstring injury.

Wade routinely drew praise from coach Brad Childress and he made his share of clutch catches over the middle. Wade had 53 receptions for 645 yards and two touchdowns last season, after recording 647 yards and three scores the year before.

Lewis was let go by New England this week. He was with the Philadelphia Eagles during Childress's last three seasons there as offensive coordinator and traded to the Patriots in March for two low-round draft picks.

'Hammie' Sidelines Seahawks' Branch

Seahawks wide receiver Deion Branch didn't practice with the team Wednesday after injuring his hamstring in Monday's workout.

Branch's availability for Sunday's season opener against St. Louis is uncertain as teams don't have to indicate whether a player is out, doubtful, questionable or probable until Friday.

Branch played just eight games last year after coming back from knee surgery. He also missed five games in 2007.

On the upside, wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh returned to practice for the first time in a week on Wednesday after sitting out with what coach Jim Mora had termed "general soreness."

Mora indicated prior to Wednesday's practice that neither receiver was seriously injured. "They are fine," Mora said. "We'll see as they go through practice today. I believe that we are going to limit Deion a little bit today, but T.J.'s fine."

Favre May Not Play All 16 Games!

Favre will make his 270th straight start when Minnesota plays at Cleveland on Sunday. That will match what the NFL considers the longest streak in history, held by former Vikings defensive lineman Jim Marshall from 1961-79.

Favre said Wednesday he "absolutely" would sit out this season if he's not healthy enough to suit up as Minnesota's quarterback. The 39-year-old also said he "may not" be able to play in all 16 regular-season games.

Favre said he was willing to sit last year with the New York Jets, and that he shared his concerns at the time with his coaches. His poor performance in December was due in part to his injured right arm.

Breaking News: Michael Vick Reinstated for Week 3

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell informed Eagles QB Michael Vick on Thursday that he will be reinstated for the third game of the regular season, reports Jason La Canfora.

Goodell met with Vick earlier today, a meeting that also included Eagles coach Andy Reid. Goodell said he also spoke at length with former NFL coach Tony Dungy, who has served as a mentor to Vick in recent months.

"Ultimately, it was my decision," Goodell told members of the national media.

Asked by reporters Thursday why he decided on the third week of the regular season versus regular-season opener, Goodell responded: "I do not want him to be put in a position where he's overwhlemed."

Goodell also said Vick understood the ruling.

"He's very realistic about the challenges ahead," Goodell said.