Sampling of letters on Henry's gun arrest

A couple of dozen people who e-mailed regarding the Chris Henry arrest in
Orlando, Fla., on gun charges.

Here are a few of the notes:

Letter 1: Dear Bengals, Get rid of him now. Keeping him will only show that you
condone this kind of behavior. If this was any other organization, other than
professional sports, he would be fired. There will always be another good receiver
with a better character. At least TO isn't getting in this kind of trouble, and would
you hire him? No. So why put up with this. It should be a privilege to play sports, not
an entitlement. Do teams making a Super Bowl run deal with these kinds of issues. Last
time we did ('88), it possibly cost us a the game. Make the right move.
George
Chicago.

Letter 2: Why do people who have been given opportunities to be successful in
life and in their careers throw these opportunities away doing stupid things? I don't
care if you are an athlete, a banker or a dishwasher you have a responsibility to
yourself, to your employer and your community to act in a responsible way. It just
shows that some individuals no matter how fortunate, lack the influence by a strong
family and friends to guide them. When children don't learn to respect others, take
responsibility for their actions and suffer the consequences of their actions, they
become adults who can't handle life as an adult, but revert to childish behavior with
bigger consequences. I guess Chris Henry is a man with a child's perspective of the
world and thinks life is a game and no matter what he does, someone else will bail him
out so he doesn't have to be responsible for his actions. For some of us who really had
to work for a living, we can't understand those who are given success on a silver
platter, and just throw it away.
Ed and Peg Berry

Letter 3: Chris Henry has been given a gift to play in the NFL. He has God
given talent to play at football highest level and has completly blown this chance. TheBengals knew he was a problem child before they drafted him, now he has proven the
facts. The Bengals need to release him and move on. They can look to the draft for
help.
Mike Newkirk

Letter 4: It's time to get rid of (Henry). Hopefully our legal system will
stop coddling athletes, entertainers, politicians, etc.. and put this guy in jail.
Paul Brown would've gotten rid of him on the first charge involving him with marijuana!
Charles Jay YockeyMt. Orab, Ohio

A few odds (Item 3) and ends from Detroit

Item 1: I talked to several former Bengals' players and coaches today at
media day at Ford Field. Not one of them -- Peter Warrick and Marquand
Manuel of the Seahawks, as well as coaches Dick LeBeau and Ray Horton of
the Steelers -- said a bad word about the Bengals organization. All have
talked about the need to move on. They all said they wished the Bengals
well and watched their games during the season.

Item 2: Bengals coach Marvin Lewis released this statement today through
the team's media relations department: "The incident in Orlando involving Chris Henry is unfortunate, and does not shine a good light on the Bengals organization. We will allow the
judicial system to run its course. The NFL will act on this matter
according to its player conduct standards, and I will deal with Chris in
relation to his standing on our football team."

Item 3: This next item is too good to make up: Steelers running back Jerome
Bettis, a Detroit native, received the key to the city today. He is the
first person since -- no lie -- former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 1980.
He had donated money to an organization in Detroit, which has a large
Muslim and Iraqi population. "I think they cancelled his key," Bettis said. "They changed the
locks on that one."

Detroit's trying hard to make Super Bowl work

Some early observations on Super Bowl XL, the sixth I have covered for the
Enquirer.

A native of the Rust Belt myself (north-central Illinois) I will take the Super Bowl in Detroit any
day ahead of Jacksonville, Fla., which was not equipped to handle it. I don't care if it is 5 degrees outside. The people of Detroit could not be nicer; they're trying exceptionally hard to make this week work for everyone involved.

In order, my favorite Super Bowl cities of the places I've been:

1. New Orleans -- it should be there every year, especially after Katrina.
2. San Diego -- the weather is better than climate-controlled.
3. Tampa -- struck me as having some sort of inferiority complex, so the
people there, like here in Detroit, were especially kind and helpful.
4. Houston -- professional and slick.
5. Detroit -- see above reasons.
6. Jacksonville -- never again.

Alexander talks about contract

We'll be keeping a close eye on Florence native Shaun Alexander this week.

He flew into town Sunday night with the rest of the Seahawks. He will be a
free agent after this game (his contract will expire in March), and there
is a sense he could be leaving the Seahawks after six seasons. He spoke in
some big-picture images Sunday night when asked whether he has to prove
something in Super Bowl XL and if he is aware that this might be his last
game with Seattle.

"I don't live my life trying to prove anything," he said. "I set high goals
for myself; I set high goals for my team and as a group. We just try to
achieve them. Contracts are contracts. They're just part of the business."

Then he was asked if he thought this would be his last game with the
Seahawks.

"No, not really," he said. "All I think about is getting this team to a
Super Bowl and now we're her to play the greatest game of our lives, which
is what we're going to have to do to win, and then try to build a dynasty."

DE Clemons among inactive vs. Steelers

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

There were no surprises on the Bengals inactive-player list.

The inactive players for the Steelers game today are cornerback Greg Brooks, fullback Nick Luchey, linebacker Nate Webster, defensive linemen Jonathan Fanene, Matthias Askew and Duane Clemons and wide receiver Kelley Washington.

Defensive tackle Bryan Robinson will play for the first time since injuring his foot Nov. 20 against the Colts. Shaun Smith will start, though, at left defensive tackle.

Robinson could play a key role in the Bengals’ effort to slow down Pittsburgh’s strong run game.

For the Steelers, running back Duce Staley is inactive for the fifth consecutive game.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Three Bengals to start in Pro Bowl

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

Right tackle Willie Anderson, wide receiver Chad Johnson and cornerback Deltha O'Neal will be AFC starters in the Pro Bowl on Feb. 12.

Here are the AFC and NFC 2006 Pro Bowl All-Star starting lineups:

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE ALL-STAR STARTERS
(*First-time Pro Bowl selection)

OFFENSE
WIDE RECEIVERS: Marvin Harrison, Colts; Chad Johnson, Bengals
TIGHT END: Antonio Gates, Chargers
QUARTERBACK: Peyton Manning, Colts
TACKLES: Willie Anderson, Bengals; Willie Roaf, Chiefs
RUNNING BACK : Edgerrin James, Colts
GUARDS: Alan Faneca, Steelers; Will Shields, Chiefs
FULLBACK: Lorenzo Neal, Chargers
CENTER: *Jeff Saturday, Colts

DEFENSE
ENDS : Dwight Freeney, Colts; Jason Tayor, Dolphins
INTERIOR LINEMEN: Marcus Stroud, Jaguars; Jamal Williams, Chargers
INSIDE LINEBACKER: Al Wilson, Broncos
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS: *Cato June, Colts; Shawne Merriman, Chargers
CORNERBACKS: Champ Bailey, Broncos; Deltha O'Neal, Bengals
STRONG SAFETY: Troy Polamalu, Steelers
FREE SAFETY: Bob Sanders, Colts

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE ALL-STAR STARTERS
(*First-time Pro Bowl selection)

OFFENSE
WIDE RECEIVERS: *Santana Moss, Redskins; Steve Smith, Panthers
TIGHT END: Alge Crumpler, Falcons
QUARTERBACK: Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks
TACKLES: Walter Jones, Seahawks; Orlando Pace, Rams
RUNNING BACK : Shaun Alexander, Seahawks
GUARDS : Larry Allen, Cowboys; Steve Hutchinson, Seahawks
FULLBACK: *Mack Strong, Seahawks
CENTER: Olin Kreutz, Bears

DEFENSE
ENDS: Julius Peppers, Panthers; Michael Strahan, Giants
INTERIOR LINEMEN: *Tommie Harris, Bears; Shaun Rogers, Lions
INSIDE LINEBACKER: Brian Urlacher, Bears
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS: Keith Brooking, Falcons; Derrick Brooks, Buccaneers
CORNERBACKS: Ronde Barber, Buccaneers; *DeAngelo Hall, Falcons
STRONG SAFETY: Roy Williams, Cowboys
FREE SAFETY: Darren Sharper, Vikings

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer and kicker Shayne Graham also are members of the AFC team.

Links to interesting NFL awards vote

These are links to:

The NFL Insider Player Awards: http://www.fantasyguru.com/1-6insider2.html

And The NFL Insider Playoff Predictons: http://www.fantasyguru.com/1-6insider1.html

There's some good reading and fuel for debate and discussion in here.

Levi Jones, O'Neal inative; no word on Palmer

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Carson Palmer is expected to start at quarterback for the Bengals today against the Chiefs.

There was no lineup change listed on the pre-game inactive list.

But several Bengals starts will be inactive for the game, which begins at 1 p.m. Cincinnati time.

The list of inactive players includes cornerback Deltha O’Neal and left tackle Levi Jones.
Jones, who has an injured shoulder, will see his streak of 59 consecutive starts snapped. Eric Steinbach will move from left guard to left tackle in place of Jones. Scott Kooistra will start at left guard.

Tight end Reggie Kelly (wrist) is active but will not start. Tony Stewart will start at tight end.
Keiwan Ratliff will start at cornerback for O’Neal, who has a bruised knee.
Other Bengals inactive players are linebacker Nate Webster, defensive linemen Jonathan Fanene, Bryan Robinson and Carl Powell and wide receiver Kelley Washington. Craig Krenzel is the third quarterback.

The Chiefs are still alive for the last wildcard slot in the AFC playoff tournament. If Kansas City wins and Pittsburgh loses at home to Detroit, the Chiefs will play at Cincinnati next weekend in the wildcard round.
E-mail mcurnutte@enqurier.com