SB Nation - Eric Henderson

Bengals worked out Joey Galloway, Ed Johnson and Mike Doss Tuesday

Kirkendall — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:27:58 -0000

More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

4 months ago: New England Patriots wide receiver Joey Galloway hauls in a pass during NFL football training camp at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Browse more photos »

While the signing of Larry Johnson, and to a smaller degree, the release of Ben Utecht, were Tuesday's primary headlines, the Bengals weren't through, just yet. On Tuesday, the Bengals worked out three other players; wide receiver Joey Galloway, safety Mike Doss and defensive lineman Ed Johnson. Johnson was released by the Indianapolis Colts in October because he lacked production. In Joey Galloway's case, he just never caught on with the Patriots. Mike Doss, who played for Cincinnati at the end of last year, was released with Chris Perry, Eric Henderson, Nate Lawrie and Gary Russell in April.

The Bengals invited Galloway, who could be used as a deep threat on a core of wide receivers that are more possession receivers. Unless, of course, you play Jerome Simpson, who has speed. It appears that Ed Johnson is more trouble than he's worth. Johnson was arrested in September of 2008 when Indiana police pulled Johnson over for speeding and found he was in possession of marijuana. Along with lacking production, there's no benefit signing Johnson at this point. Doss was awesome in college. Since then, injuries have really slowed him down and he's, at best, a special teams contributor.

In the end, I'll be surprised if the Bengals offer anyone that visited a contract.

UPDATE: Bengals release five, including Chris Perry and Gary Russell

Kirkendall — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:12:31 -0000

We wrote earlier that the Bengals will have a tight competition for two spots on the roster -- given that Cedric Benson is surely the team's feature back. Well, the first causalities have already begun. Chris Perry is one of the several players cut from the team, writes Geoff Hobson.

Running back Chris Perry became the first first-round pick of the Marvin Lewis era to be cut Monday when the Bengals ended his injury-riddled five-year career in Cincinnati.

They also cut safety Mike Doss as well as two players that saw players taken at their positions in the third round Sunday in defensive end/linebacker Eric Henderson and tight end Nate Lawrie.

None of these cuts go as any surprise. Chris Perry was all but given his walking papers as soon as Cedric Benson signed with the Bengals during the 2008 regular season. Eric Henderson, another walking-ridden player, was likely replaced by Michael Johnson and Nate Lawrie was the fourth tight end after Chase Coffman was drafted.

However, it's unclear how we (if we should) perceive Mike Doss' release. He wasn't a big contributor, but speculation about an imminent Roy Williams signing is going to gain traction. However after not touching the position in the draft, they signed safety Tom Nelson out of Illinois State, an undrafted free agent, late on Sunday night.

UPDATE: Joe Reedy writes in his post about the cuts, that Gary Russell was also waived. We hardly knew ya.

Drafting advice, updating our IR starting lineup and being super-cereal about Manbearpig

Kirkendall — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:33:15 -0000

Drafting linemen in the first two rounds, only way to go. I disagree with Geoff Hobson's assessment that if the Bengals decide to start Anthony Collins and/or Andrew Whitworth at tackle next season, that they'd need the experience of Bobbie Williams at guard -- if they can't adjust during off-season camps, then maybe they shouldn't be here. The question he responds to is simple, why not move Williams at center? It would be a tremendous failure on the Bengals part to draft less than two offensive linemen during the first day; a tackle in the first, a center in the second. Keep Williams and Whitworth at guard, while thinking guard in the 2010 NFL draft. There's good talent there in the draft, especially at tackle and center. We're not in need of skill players, and a great offensive line can make running backs like Rudi Johnson look great and prevent us from using a backup quarterback through 3/4ths of the season.

Look, I love Beanie Wells, and I suspect that many Cincinnatians are looking at him during the first day. However, he's not going to do much with our offensive line. Nor has he put to rest the obvious durability issues that I believe could pose serious concerns with NFL teams.

Updating our IR Starting lineup. Nine players, who have started at least one game this season (including long-time starter Jeremi Johnson), are on Injured Reserve -- if you include Carson Palmer who would be on IR with any other team. Since we didn't update our list yet with Eric Henderson, we figured now is as good as any. The starting lineup is still missing defensive tackles; however we can place Henderson at OLB (of course, with limited experience) to give us a starting lineup with three linebackers. We also can move our offensive line around to complete our offensive starting lineup. And yes, I think the starting IR offensive lineup could probably put up more points than what we're putting on the field Sunday.

QB: Carson Palmer (eventually, I'm sure)
RB: DeDe Dorsey
FB: Jeremi Johnson, Reagan Maui'a
WR: Antonio Chatman, Marcus Maxwell
TE: Matt Sherry
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Scott Kooistra, Kirk Barton
C: Dan Santucci, Kyle Cook
RG: Justin Britt
RT:

DE: Frostee Rucker, Robert Geathers, Eric Henderson
DT:
LB: Keith Rivers, Abdul Hodge
CB: Johnathan Joseph, Ethan Kilmer
S: Dexter Jackson, Corey Lynch, Herana-Daze Jones, Marvin White

Justin Britt (G)
Antonio Chatman (WR)
Kyle Cook (C)
DeDe Dorsey (RB)
Robert Geathers (DE)
Abdul Hodge (LB)
Dexter Jackson (S)
Jeremi Johnson (FB)
Johnathan Joseph (CB)
Corey Lynch (S)
Reagan Maui'a (FB)
Keith Rivers (LB)
Frostee Rucker (DE)
Dan Santucci (C)
Matt Sherry (TE)
Ethan Kilmer (S/CB)
Marcus Maxwell (WR)
Herana-Daze Jones (S)
Scott Kooistra (T/G)
Andrew Whitworth (G)
Marvin White (S)
Kirk Barton (G/T)
Eric Henderson (DE)

More, more, so much more in store for the bore. Ryan Fitzpatrick is auditioning for a job next season... one on one with Willie Anderson... Chris Perry and Chinedum Ndukwe sat Friday's practice (Perry is out Sunday)... Chick Ludwig agrees with Cincy Jungle, the Bengals could pull this one out (aka trap game)... finishing 4-11-1 looks better (yeap, it's true).

Lewis on Jason Shirley (link to C Trent):

"I see new life in Jason Shirley, he had a much better practice week than he’s had the entire season for getting to play however many snaps he got to play in the last game. And it’s just different when you get a chance to go out there and play and then you get a chance to see. It’s like a new lease on life and it gets you enthused and excited when you know you’re going to have a chance to play, if you haven’t had a chance to play. It’s tough for a young guy to come in and not play, or any players. Ask Carson. It’s tough when you don’t get to play."

Lewis is super-cereal about the future.

"I think what it does is give -- there are a lot of young guys out there playing -- it's a lot of guys, if you look, there are five or six guys who were here a season ago, which is amazing thing. You have some guys who are injured who are going to be the core of your football team. And you have new guys who are going to have the chance to experience the growth and development, not only in themselves, but as a football team. When you get your other guys back and you're ready to start a new season, and they've got something to do prove, but we're getting to see other guys mature and round up and round into better spots and so forth, like Kyries (Hebert) and some of these other guys. It's amazing, Chris Crocker, etc., there are some guys. When I looked in, hell, there are 30 heads in the defensive meeting room because of all the guys on IR. So, I mean, that's a lot of people. You're going to add some new people and better people."

"I do," he said. "I think we found some of those guys. I see new life in Jason Shirley, he had a much better practice week than he's had the entire season for getting to play however many snaps he got to play in the last game. And it's just different when you get a chance to go out there and play and then you get a chance to see. It's like a new lease on life and it gets you enthused and excited when you know you're going to have a chance to play, if you haven't had a chance to play. It's tough for a young guy to come in and not play, or any players. Ask Carson (Palmer). It's tough when you don't get to play."

As for the title of this post, well, it had little to do with the Bengals. I just super-love this episode of Al Gore's making us aware of Manbearpig.

Henderson is 23rd placed on IR, and more Mike Brown dribble

Kirkendall — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:34:37 -0000

Dave says a GM won't help the Bengals as much. WDR calls Dave irrational. Dave responds, saying that it doesn't change a thing. I spoke briefly with Michael Abromowitz (yes, I name drop) after I linked his article yesterday morning, and basically we believed the only substantive effort for "real change" would be gathering a group of investors (a primary point in his article), to overvalue the team, perhaps twice as much, and put forth a powerful bid on the team.

Sadly, not only is it questionable that Brown would even sell, but it's unlikely that investors, in our uber-ness of super economic practices, would be willing to over-value this team. Furthermore, if the investors aren't Cincinnati-based, then there's a likelihood, based on contracts (and loop holes) of city agreements with the franchise to stick in Cincinnati, that an outside investor could pack up shop and send them to an area where the stands would fill up and markets would pour money into the team. Any city would be thrilled to have a representative in the NFL.

Essentially, selling really isn't an option; more like a fool's dream. In truth, no solution seems viable, much less likely; we're a cynical folk and no matter what one suggests, the other will have a problem with it. That's how we roll.

Moving on...

+ Eric Henderson is the team's 23rd player on IR. Henderson gives us another option at defensive end on our IR starting lineup, but also a player that can move to outside linebacker. bengals signed defensive end, Chris Harrington off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad.

Q and A with Mike Doss.

Antwan Odom could play this Sunday. James Walker asks if Odom regrets coming here, and "would've accepted less money to stay with Tennessee this year?" Alternatively, since players are always the victims of professional sports, does Cincinnati regret signing Odom because he's done little to help our team improve the terrible pass rush.

However, there's a league-wide drop in sacks.

Along with Odom, Chinedum Ndukwe and David Jones could be returning.

Acquiring Chris Crocker and Mike Doss this season, in response to injuries, has actually given the Bengals better depth.

The Bengals will bounce back.

Keith Rivers lost 24 pounds while having his mouth wired shut. Now, he's working himself back.

Practice Report: Ravens @ Bengals (Wednesday)

Kirkendall — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:56:34 -0000

Two things that stand out:

Jerome Simpson got full work in.
Antwan Odom was limited, but he was practicing.

Practices

BENGALS	WED	THUR	FRI
QB Carson Palmer (right elbow)	OUT
G Andrew Whitworth (ankle)	OUT
LB Eric Henderson (neck)	DNP
LB Rashad Jeanty (shin)	DNP
CB David Jones (knee)	DNP
T Levi Jones (back)	DNP
G Scott Kooistra (knee)	DNP
S Chinedum Ndukwe (foot)	DNP
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (back)	LP
DE Antwan Odom (shoulder)	LP
WR Jerome Simpson (ankle)	FP


RAVENS	WED	THUR	FRI
WR Terrance Copper (neck)	DNP
TE Todd Heap (illness)	DNP
T Willie Anderson (foot, ankle)	LP
T Jared Gaither (shoulder)	LP
WR Derrick Mason (shoulder)	LP
RB Le'Ron McClain (thigh)	LP
RB Lorenzo Neal (thigh)	LP
DE Trevor Pryce (head)	LP
T Adam Terry (head)	LP
DT Lamar Divens (shoulder)	FP

DNP - Did Not Practice
LP - Limited Participation in Practice
FP - Full Participation in Practice

Terrible Heinz Field takes two Bengals defensive ends for the season

Kirkendall — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:45:31 -0000

Bengals signed this crazy looking Josh Mallard at DE.

Even though the beat writers point out that the Bengals have 14 players (it's actually 15, as per the roster) on Injured Reserve, it's somewhat diluted, in that it's not just 14 players they've sent to IR; those are the players still under contract. If you include Ethan Kilmer, Herana-Daze Jones and Marcus Maxwell, the Bengals have sent 18 players to IR since training camp due to injury, whether new or ongoing.

Robert Geathers and Frostee Rucker were the newest additions after slipping on the terrible turf at Heinz field. Listing the players on IR, including those the team waived.

Justin Britt
Antonio Chatman
Kyle Cook
DeDe Dorsey
Robert Geathers
Abdul Hodge
Dexter Jackson
Jeremi Johnson
Johnathan Joseph
Corey Lynch
Reagan Maui'a
Keith Rivers
Frostee Rucker
Dan Santucci
Matt Sherry
Ethan Kilmer
Marcus Maxwell
Herana-Daze Jones

If you want, you could include the release of Kenny Irons after failing his physical, though he wasn't placed on IR.

Eric Henderson and Antwan Odom have been limited recently with their own injuries, unable to go against the Steelers. Jonathan Fanene and John Thornton had a majority of the team's reps at defensive end late against the Steelers. The Bengals signed Josh Mallard, who has 8.5 career sacks in four seasons dating back to 2002 and guard Evan Mathis. They signed a second defensive end, Victor Degrate to the practice squad -- they still have one spot open.

Nine Bengals OUT; two frosh linemen starting... yikes

Kirkendall — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:24:25 -0000

With Antonio Chatman ending his season on Injured Reserve, and Chris Henry playing so terribly since his Mike Brown early Christmas resurrection, what's left of the Bengals passing game beyond Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh? Glenn Holt and Andre Caldwell (who just recovered from his own injury); Jerome Simpson is still hurt, and unlikely to play Thursday. On the practice squad ranks are Mario Urrutia and Maurice Purify.

Three's a company? It's a freaking party. With Levi Jones and Andrew Whitworth declared "out", the Bengals will turn to Anthony Collins at left tackle and Scott Kooistra at left guard. Kooistra is out also. Seriously? Thursday night, the Bengals will have two guys starting on the left side of the offensive line that's never started. Inexperienced be damned, says Nate Livings, expected to start at left guard. "I've been playing this game all my life. It's what I do. Ever since I was nine, 10 years old. To me, it's no different than that," said Livings before Wednesday's practice. "I think that's where people go wrong. They put too much (emphasis on inexperience). Yes, it's the NFL. But it's my job. I come to work every day and that's how I look at it."

What's the tally on injury? Chris Crocker looks to get a start after Chinedum Ndukwe was declared out, one of nine players out. Three offensive linemen, three players on their way to IR (if you include Carson Palmer), and two defensive ends, Eric Henderson and Antwan Odom. Starting cornerback Johnathan Joseph also missed practices this week and is listed as questionable.

STATUS

OUT	DOUBTFUL	QUESTIONABLE	PROBABLE
Carson Palmer	Jerome Simpson	Johnathan Joseph	Andre Caldwell
Antonio Chatman			Houshmandzadeh
Eric Henderson			Reggie Kelly
Abdul Hodge			Kenny Watson
Levi Jones
Scott Kooistra
Chinedum Ndukwe
Antwan Odom
Andrew Whitworth

TUESDAY: Not including Antonio Chatman and Carson Palmer, declared out already, the Bengals had eight players sit out practice for various elements on Tuesday; three linemen and two starting defensive backs, more notable. Levi Jones and Andrew Whitworth figure to be out, meaning Anthony Collins will make his first start alongside Scott Kooistra, if his presence on the injury report with a "knee" is only for rest.

Practices

BENGALS	TUES	WED
WR Antonio Chatman (neck)	OUT	OUT
QB Carson Palmer (right elbow)	OUT	OUT
DE Eric Henderson (neck)	DNP	OUT
T Levi Jones (back)	DNP	OUT
CB Johnathan Joseph (foot)	DNP	DNP
G Scott Kooistra (knee)	DNP	OUT
S Chinedum Ndukwe (foot)	DNP	OUT
DE Antwan Odom (shoulder)	DNP	OUT
WR Jerome Simpson (ankle)	DNP	DNP
G Andrew Whitworth (ankle	DNP	OUT
RB Kenny Watson (shoulder)	LP	FP
WR Andre Caldwell (foot)	FP	FP
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (back)	FP	FP
TE Reggie Kelly (ankle)	FP	FP


STEELERS	TUES	WED
T Marvel Smith (back)	DNP
CB Deshea Townsend (hamstring)	DNP
TE Matt Spaeth (wrist)	LP
CB Bryant McFadden (forearm)	FP

DNP - Did Not Practice
LP - Limited Participation in Practice
FP - Full Participation in Practice

Final Injury Report: Eagles @ Bengals

Kirkendall — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:09:43 -0000

Cedric Benson showed up on Thursday's injury report with a back issue. Lewis said that "he had a tight back yesterday" and that he should be ready to go Sunday. Chinedum Ndukwe missed Wednesday's and Thursday's practices with a foot injury but should be fine.

However, super-free agency acquisition Antwan Odom is likely out with a shoulder problem that's still yet to be known -- at least publicly. The shoulder problem could range from a "slight sprain to a tear that would require season-ending surgery." I'm anticipating good things from Frostee Rucker, preparing for his third NFL start.

On the Eagles side of the ball, it appears several players got healthier throughout the week; though the Andrews brothers won't get a chance to play in the same game together with Shawn sitting out.

STATUS

OUT - QB Carson Palmer (right elbow)
DOUBTFUL - WR Andre Caldwell (foot), DE Eric Henderson (neck), DE Antwan Odom (shoulder), WR Jerome Simpson (ankle)
PROBABLE - T Stacy Andrews (illness), RB Cedric Benson (back), LB Rashad Jeanty (foot), S Chinedum Ndukwe (foot), DT Pat Sims (knee)

OUT - G Shawn Andrews (back)
PROBABLE - S Sean Considine (rib), S Brian Dawkins (elbow), LS Jon Dorenbos (shoulder), CB Joselio Hanson (hamstring), WR DeSean Jackson (groin), DT Trevor Laws (shoulder), CB Asante Samuel (hip), RB Brian Westbrook (knee)

Practices

BENGALS	Wed.	Thurs.	Fri.
QB Carson Palmer (right elbow)	OUT	OUT	OUT
WR Andre Caldwell (foot)	DNP	DNP	DNP
DE Eric Henderson (neck)	DNP	DNP	DNP
S Chinedum Ndukwe (foot)	DNP	DNP	FP
WR Jerome Simpson (ankle)	DNP	DNP	DNP
DT Pat Sims (knee)	DNP	LP	FP
LB Rashad Jeanty (foot)	LP	LP	FP
DE Antwan Odom (shoulder)	LP	DNP	DNP
RB Cedric Benson (back)	--	DNP	FP
T Stacy Andrews (illness)	--	LP	FP


EAGLES
G Shawn Andrews (back)	OUT	OUT	OUT
LS Jon Dorenbos (shoulder)	DNP	FP	FP
QB Donovan McNabb (not injury related)	DNP	--	--
S Sean Considine (rib)	FP	FP	FP
S Brian Dawkins (elbow)	FP	FP	FP
CB Joselio Hanson (hamstring)	FP	FP	FP
WR DeSean Jackson (groin)	FP	FP	FP
DT Trevor Laws (shoulder)	FP	FP	FP
RB Brian Westbrook (knee)	FP	FP	LP
CB Asante Samuel (hip)	--	DNP	FP

DNP - Did Not Practice
LP - Limited Participation in Practice
FP - Full Participation in Practice

Friday afternoon links and notes -- report out that players tested positive for banned substance

Kirkendall — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:08:05 -0000

There's a lot of items to tackle, so we decided to run a second links and notes. Also, don't forget to ask your questions about the Houston Texans this Sunday.

There's a report hitting the wire that at least six, and exceeding 15, players have tested positive for banned substances. The list has yet to be known -- and likely won't be until suspensions are handed out. However, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith have been named already. The issue is something called Bumetanide (aka, "water pills" that could mask other drugs or performance enhancements).

Even though encouraging news came out Friday that the Bengals will not shut down Carson Palmer, they did put Reagan Maui'a on the team's Injured Reserve. I don't know if it's just bad luck, or what. But the team signed Maui'a a few days ago, he supposedly hurt his hamstring, and then he's placed on IR. They signed Eric Henderson off the practice squad -- likely the team's position replacement for losing Keith Rivers.

In regards to Kellen Winslow being suspended for comments about the team and staph infections, Mike Florio writes, "Does the First Amendment right to free speech overcome the ability of the NFL and its teams to discipline employees who criticize officials or otherwise talk out of school?" I'm no constitutional expert, but doesn't free speech apply to the government only -- aka, the government can't restrict your right to free speech? As far as my experience goes, if you publicly speak about your employers or the company you work for to the media, then you're fair game.

Since we're pumping out posts today. Just a recap on things. We examined when the Bengals last did something -- like rushed for over 200 yards in a game, or held the opposing team to less than 50 yards rushing. We also brought up Reggie Williams, the Bengals remaining schedule and Palmer's possible return in 2008.

And just because we can.

Bengals sign Eric Henderson to the Practice Squad

Kirkendall — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:50:30 -0000

On Monday, the Cincinnati Bengals announced that they've signed Eric Henderson to the team's practice squad. Henderson is one of those guys that represents a ton of potential, but injuries continue to stall any progress.

For a time, it appeared that Henderson would make the 2007 squad as a pass-rushing outside linebacker, but broke a bone in his right wrist and landed on IR for the season. Henderson worked mostly as a defensive end throughout minicamps and training camp this year.

The Bengals have two more spots to fill for their practice squad.

LB Dan Howell
RB James Johnson
G Nate Livings
WR Maurice Purify
WR Mario Urrutia
DE Eric Henderson
LB Carl-Johan Bjork