Chris Henry is experiencing a different kind of hardship.
The Bengals receiver broke both bones in his left forearm during
a win over Baltimore two weeks ago. He needed surgery to have
two plates inserted, ending his chances of playing again during
his final season under contract with Cincinnati.
"It was tough at first," Henry said, his left arm in a bulky
cast supported by a sling. "Now I've just got to roll with the
punches and do what I need to do to get back healthy and be
ready for next year. Just another hurdle I've got to get over."
For most of his career, he's been his own obstacle. After his
fifth arrest with Cincinnati after the 2007 season, the Bengals
let him go, saying they were finished with him. Owner Mike Brown
changed his mind and brought Henry back a few months later, even
though coach Marvin Lewis didn't want him.
Henry has changed his life, staying away from friends who were a
bad influence and avoiding trouble since he's been back. He was
primarily a third-down receiver when he broke his arm.
Henry said he has learned to take things in stride.
"It just comes with time, you know?" he said. "I learned to
handle all situations, so I'll be all right."
He'll have the arm in a cast for a total of about 10 weeks, then
begin rehabilitation, hoping some team is willing to give him a
chance next season. He would like it to be the Bengals, though
there have been no talks about a contract extension.
"It's the team that brought me in and stuck with me, so I'd love
to pretty much finish my career here," Henry said. "Hopefully we
can get something done when the time comes."
He's got a powerful ally in the front office.
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REMEMBER HIM?: Before Brett Favre came on board, the Vikings
were giving Tarvaris Jackson another opportunity to be their
starting quarterback, in a competition with Sage Rosenfels. With
Favre staying healthy and playing as well as ever, the backups
have been all but forgotten.
Jackson, though, has separated himself from Rosenfels as the No.
2 QB and shared repetitions in practice with Favre to stay sharp
and keep the 40-year-old fresh.
Coach Brad Childress praised Jackson's progress, even though his
only time on the field has been at the very end of games when
the Vikings are comfortably ahead. Jackson has also taken turns
with the scout team.
"Particularly in a week like this week where the systems are
similar, I can call the play - our play - and then I can watch
him read it out and then tell him how I want him to read it
out," Childress said, referring to versions of the West Coast
offense run by both Seattle and Minnesota, who meet this week.
"I just think he's done a good job with that. He's growing, even
though it's not apparent to people that aren't watching him."
Childress called Jackson's improvement steady.
"The measuring stick is always on the field on Sundays. That is
my sense with what he has gotten and what he takes," Childress
said. "He's just not slopping through it. He's being intentional
about knowing game plans, the next guy in the game and not just
trying to give our defense looks. Those are the
speed-of-the-game reps that he gets that he's got to take and
run with, and they have to serve him in case he gets in on
Sunday."
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CATCHING UP WITH RICE: Don't ask Jerry Rice about the upcoming
Hall of Fame voting, for which he is eligible for the first
time.
"If I get selected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it gives
me an opportunity to say thank you to everybody who has inspired
me to be the best player I can be," Rice said. "But I'm not
looking down that road and saying I am a shoo-in; let the
process take care of itself."
That the game's greatest receiver would be denied entry seems
unlikely, just as career rushing leader Emmitt Smith, who also
has become eligible, is almost certain to get into the Canton
shrine on Feb. 6.
"That would be fun, because I have lot of respect for Emmitt and
I'm sure he is excited about the opportunity, too. It won't
happen until (February)."
Until then, Rice is working on Gillette's program that allows
fans access to select NFL locker rooms through nfl.com and even
offers a chance to win Super Bowl tickets.
"We're trying to bring fans a little closer to the game," Rice
explained. "When you are able to see into the locker room,
you'll be able to see the celebrations for wins and the
devastations when you lose. You get to see the true emotions
that you don't ordinarily get to see."
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CHANCE AT RARE DOUBLE: The Tennessee Titans are on pace to do
something no NFL team has managed since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger,
and it would be quite an offensive feat if they do.
The Titans currently lead the NFL in fewest sacks allowed with
seven while leading the league with a 5.3-yard average per rush.
It's a unique statistical double showing off quality pass
protection and strength blocking for the run. It's even more
impressive considering the Titans are facing eight and nine
defenders near the line trying to stop NFL rushing leader Chris
Johnson.
Left tackle Michael Roos said it's fun blocking for the speedy
Johnson.
"The hole doesn't have to be very big. You know you want to stay
on your block. You've got the mentality you don't want your guy
to be the one to make the play. You stay with your block as long
as you can knowing any play at anytime can go to the house,"
Roos said.
The Titans have allowed only one sack since the mobile Vince
Young moved into the starting slot at quarterback.
"If you get beat ... he can help us and get out of it. The bad
thing is you don't always know where he's at," Roos said.
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BLACKED-OUT BOLTS? The San Diego Chargers' 50th anniversary
celebration could be spoiled by their first TV blackout since
2004.
Southern California's only NFL team announced this week that
more than 7,300 tickets must to be sold to lift the blackout for
the Nov. 29 game against Kansas City, a puzzling development
considering the Chargers' resurgence. The Chargers have
designated it as their 50th Anniversary Weekend, and their
all-time team will be introduced before the game.
"We anticipated this being a difficult game to sell from the
beginning, which is why we geared our biggest promotion of the
year behind it," team executive Jim Steeg said. "Why it has not
sold is puzzling, but there are lots of theories. Our main
objective now is to make sure people realize that the NFL
blackout policy exists and is a real possibility."
The Chargers' last blackout was Nov. 7, 2004, against New
Orleans.
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AP Football Writer Barry Wilner and Sports Writers Bernie Wilson
in San Diego, Joe Kay in Cincinnati and Teresa M. Walker in
Nashville contributed to this story.
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