NFL not clear on Henry

The question of whether Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry will serve a suspension for his off-field transgressions is in the hands of the NFL office.

This afternoon, responding to the question from the Enquirer, AFC Information Manager Steve Alic had a prepared statement: "We are reviewing this and will take appropriate disciplinary action in due course," Alic said.

The question, following Henry's guilty plea this morning in Kenton District Court that he provided alcohol to under-aged females, is whether the crime falls under the NFL substance abuse policy. The crime involved alcohol, but Henry did not consume it.

The sense is that Henry will be suspended for four games at the start of the 2007 season. He tied with a team-high nine touchdown receptions in just 36 total catches and had a team best 16.8-yard per catch average.

Henry already has one strike against him under the policy, a guilty plea to marijuana possession, that required counseling/treatment.

The second violation brings a four-game NFL suspension, the one that linebacker Odell Thurman served at the start of the 2006 season. Thurman was suspended for one year (the third strike) after a DUI arrest Sept. 25.