NFL receiver Chris Henry dies from injuries in car accident during spat with fiancee Loleini Tonga

BY Larry Mcshane
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Originally Published:Thursday, December 17th 2009, 10:03 AM
Updated: Thursday, December 17th 2009, 4:02 PM

Swinger/AP

Cincinnati Bengals

Chris Henry, right, is seen with his fiancé, Loleini and their kids in September.

Sancetta/AP

Henry was out for the season with a forearm injury - another bad break in a career punctuated by suspensions and arrests.

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Bengal suffers serious injuries in accident

Talented but troubled Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry died Thursday from injuries suffered when he was thrown from the back of a moving pickup truck during a fight with his fiancee.

Henry, 26, was injured a day earlier in Charlotte, N.C.

He was pronounced dead at 6:36 a.m. at a North Carolina hospital, police said.

After Henry and fiancee Loleini Tonga began arguing at a Charlotte house, Tonga started to drive off and Henry apparently jumped into the bed of the pickup truck, police in Charlotte said.

As Tonga drove, Henry tumbled out the back of the moving vehicle. The mortally wounded NFL player was found lying in the street about a half-mile from the home, police said.

Bengals owner Mike Brown, who offered the often self-destructive Henry a shot at redemption, said the death came at a time when the player was thriving.

"He had worked through the troubles in his life and had finally, seemingly reached the point where everything was going to blossom," Brown said.

"And he was going to have the future we all wanted for him. It's painful to us. We feel it in our hearts, and we will miss him."

Police said Wednesday that no charges were filed against Tonga, although it was unclear if Henry's death might change that.

Homicide detectives were assigned to investigate the case, police spokeswoman Rosalyn Harrington said.

Henry was already on injured reserve with a broken left forearm suffered in a Nov. 8 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. His fiancee's parents live in Charlotte.

The receiver's stunning death followed his latest comeback from a plethora of off-field problems.

Henry was arrested five times in 28 months before the Bengals cut him in April 2008.

He was busted on charges of marijuana possession, carrying a concealed weapon, drunken driving and assault. Henry was suspended for two games in 2006 and eight more in 2007 for violating the NFL's conduct policy.

The Bengals opted to give him another chance shortly after his release, and Henry behaved himself across the past two seasons.

In an October interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer, Henry credited his fiancee with keeping him focused on football.

"She's been a big help," Henry said. "She's been right here with me and going through things and helping out on my side. ... She has my back with everything I've needed."

Harvey Silverstein

Owner, Headquarter Insurance Group

FOXSports.com is reporting that the Dodgers are one of a handful of teams interested in John Smoltz. While Smoltz was a starter last season with the Red Sox and Cardinals, he could sign somewhere as a closer, too.

As Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi report, the Dodgers would like to add a veteran starter to brace themselves for the possible departures of Randy Wolf, Vicente Padilla, and Jon Garland.

Smoltz had quite the interesting season in 2009. He signed with the Red Sox and didn't make his first start until June 25 because of shoulder surgery. Needless to say, it was an absolute disaster, as he went a putrid 2-5 with an 8.32 ERA.

He quickly was released and made the smart call in going back to the National League, this time with the Cardinals. Though he was only 1-3, he had a much better 4.26 ERA.

With Dodger Stadium still having the reputation as being a pitcher's park, it could be a good fit. I know Joe Torre would love it, if for no other reason than to take young hurlers Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw under his wing for at least a year.

Harvey Silverstein

Owner, Headquarter Insurance Group

Thursday, December 17, 2009