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Houshmandzadeh distraught over Henry’s death

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By Carlos “Big C” Holmes, Staff Writer Updated 10:53 PM Saturday, December 19, 2009

Chris Henry’s Cincinnati Bengals teammates won’t be the only ones playing with heavy hearts on Sunday. The same can be said of Seattle Seahawks receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, a former teammate.

Henry, a fifth-year Bengals receiver, died Thursday after falling out of the back of a pickup truck the night before.

During a phone interview with Houshmandzadeh on Friday, Dec. 18, he shared some emotional thoughts of his fallen friend.

“I think Chris was grossly misunderstood as a person,” Houshmandzadeh said. “There are only a few people who can say that they carried on a conversation with him his first three years on the team. He just didn’t talk and kept to himself.

“I don’t know how many people were really close to Slim, but I still talked to him. I talked to him after he broke his arm. We didn’t talk everyday but did keep up with one another. I’m going to miss that boy dearly.”

Henry, a talented receiver, will probably be remembered most for his brushes with the law.

“Chris didn’t have any really, really, big problems,” Houshmandzadeh said. “There were problems because of the profession he was in and the publicity that comes with that. So when he did make a mistake he got caught. A lot of people have made mistakes but they didn’t get caught. He got caught and it was highly publicized. I knew a different Chris Henry than his public persona would indicate.

“I’ve always thought that Chris was a good dude and told him that. When he first got into trouble with the Bengals, I sat him down and I talked to him. I told (receivers coach) Hugh Jackson I got this. I’m going to talk to him. I talked to him and we had a good conversation. Chris came to me the next day and said, ‘Thanks, T, you said some real stuff to me. I appreciate that you would think enough about me to talk to me like that.’ ”

Houshmandzadeh said he talked to Jackson the day of Henry’s death and the conversation was beyond heartfelt.

“Hugh couldn’t even talk and was crying the whole time,” Houshmandzadeh said. “Hugh was the one that put his neck on the line for Chris. Chris didn’t take a pre-draft visit to anyone but the Cincinnati Bengals. When he came for his visit he was with Chad Johnson, myself and Hugh Jackson. We took him out to eat and then to a comedy club. We had a good time and I saw a lot of good in Chris.

“On top of that, the boy had mad talent. It’s a shame that we won’t have the opportunity to see him reach his full potential as a player and person. He had really turned his life around. The whole thing is just crazy to me.”

Henry may have admired and desired the limelight that Chad received on the field, but he wanted to pattern his life after T.J.

I remember a conversation I had with Henry during the offseason and he talked about how much he looked up to Houshmandzadeh. Henry said he learned a lot about the game from T.J., calling him the smartest player he had ever been around. He added that he was going to miss Houshmandzadeh’s leadership in the huddle after moving on to Seattle.

“Chris always would say, ‘T, I’m going to be a family man like you man,’ ” Houshmandzadeh said. “I told him that a family man is not out there hanging out in the clubs. They’re at home with their families. I believe Chris took that to heart and made a conscious effort to change his life and did it. It’s sad that his life was cut short. I will definitely be playing with a heavy heart on Sunday with him in mind.”

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StuttgartTim, you need SERIOUS help if you truly belive even one word of your post.

Chris Henry was a MAN...period. He made mistakes like all of us, and it's unfortunate that he had to die just as he was making a real attempt to turn his life around...but until recently, he was hardly anyone you would want your kids to pattern their lives after. Mr. Henry was just a talented football player who had a temper that probably led to his early death. Sad yes, but don't portray him as anything more.

GetReal
1:39 AM, 1/6/2010

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Last time I looked, WE ARE ALL STILL ON EARTH! When you make it to HEAVEN, then you can comment negative (as I'm sure you're perfect!) about someone else!!!! Oop's, sorry, that would mean you are in HELL! SUGARCOAT THAT!!!
R.I.P. #15, GODS SPEED, Til we meet again, "Slim."

Kerry
11:47 PM, 12/23/2009

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What kind of church is that idiot going to? Is Tom Cruise a classmate ?

bengalsfan
6:02 PM, 12/23/2009

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Hey StuttgartTim-
You're an idiot.
Who are you? John lennon?
You probably have no stinking clue to that reference do you...
Henry more powerful than Christ? Football more powerful than Christ? Get your facts and priorities straight, boy.
Ever heard of going to church on days other than Sunday?
What a tool...

Johnny Ringo
10:04 AM, 12/23/2009

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Gayme! do you want to be remembered for the only bad things you have done in your life? we all have skeletons in the closet and we all have done some things bad in our lifetime do you want to be remembered for all your faults and not the good things you have done in your life...get real, a man is gone and his football or life outside of the game is a moot point! A human being lost his life! What is wrong with you? You sound like a person who has no compassion or care for human life get real!

bengalsfan
2:28 PM, 12/22/2009

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