Bengals' Smith is holdout GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) -- First-round draft pick Andre Smith missed the Cincinnati Bengals' first practice of training camp in a contract holdout.
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis declined to comment on negotiations with the offensive lineman following their afternoon practice. The Bengals are counting on Smith, the sixth overall pick from Alabama, to start at right tackle.
Cincinnati is trying to overhaul the offensive line, which gave up 51 sacks as part of the last-ranked offense in the league last season. Right guard Bobbie Williams is the only lineman returning in the same position as last year.
All of the Bengals' other draft picks were signed before the practice.
Has Henry changed?
GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) -- Tattoos tell the story of Chris Henry's troubled, turned-around life in football.
There's an NFL emblem inked across the back of his right hand, something he got as a youth to remind himself of where he wanted to go.
"I was in high school," the receiver said. "It was kind of a dream. It all worked out."
For a time, anyway. His inability to stay out of trouble with the Cincinnati Bengals cost him everything. After his fifth arrest in March of last year, they dumped him. All that Henry had left of his pro career was that shield-shaped tattoo on his right hand.
So much for the dream.
Stunningly, owner Mike Brown changed his mind and decided to give Henry what amounted to fifth chance last August. After serving a four-game suspension from the league, he had a so-so season in Cincinnati that got a little better as it went along. When it ended, Henry decided another tattoo was in order. This one would be just below his left ear, an inch-tall word in flowing text.
It says: Blessed. "I kind of felt like I dug myself out of the hole and started doing the right things," Henry said. "People say, 'How you feeling now Chris? You doing all right?' I just tell them I'm blessed. That's why I got it."
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