Bengals Having Major Troubles in Offseason

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis can't wait for the 2006 NFL season to start. That way he can put out of his mind a turbulent offseason for the Bengals franchise and its fans.

It all started back in that January playoff game when Kimo von Oelhoffen took out quarterback Carson Palmer in the first offensive series. From that point on, Lewis has been on a rollercoaster ride of sorts and just when he thought it couldn't get any worse - it did.

Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was charged Wednesday with providing alcohol to three underage females, his fourth arrest in the last seven months.

Henry surrendered to authorities on three misdemeanor counts of unlawful transaction with a minor and posted $2,500 bond. He could get up to a year in jail and a $500 fine on each count if convicted. Henry will be arraigned Thursday, the prosecutor's office said.

Henry was charged June 4 with speeding and drunken driving. He also faces trial Aug. 21 in Orlando, Fla., on a concealed weapon charge involving allegations that he pulled a pistol on a group of people in January.

He was previously prosecuted for a December arrest on marijuana charges, pleading guilty in March and avoiding jail time after completing a drug rehabilitation program.

Last week, Bengals rookie linebacker, A.J. Nicholson, a fifth-round pick from Florida State, was arrested and charged with grand theft and burglary, both felonies, in a break-in at a former Florida State teammate's apartment in Tallahassee, Fla. Nicholson had a series of run-ins with the law playing with Seminoles.

"I told the people that yes, you embarrass us as an organization, myself, and the coaches when these things occur," Lewis said last week after the arrests "Right, wrong or indifferent, there are certain things that you're asked not to be a part of or around. That bothers me when someone doesn't quite understand social laws. That bothers me, no question."

To be honest, the brunt of the blame falls on Lewis himself. Henry and Nicholson were problems during college and had red flags all over them from other NFL personnel people. Henry was rated as a first round talent three years ago, but fell to the third round because of character issues. Nicholson dropped to round five after being evaluated as second round talent.

Character is important. Witness this years draft for proof. Many highly rated players fell into the later rounds because of personal baggage they carried with them. If teams draft guys with questionable character, there's a chance that team will have to suffer the consequences. The Bengals are doing that now. You reap what you sow.

On the field it won't be easy either, Cincinnati is in a division that boasts the defending Super Bowl champs in the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens bolstered their lineup with the addition of Steve McNair.

Regardless of who he has to face, Lewis would love to be in that situation right now. Instead, he has to deal with an off season that has been a gigantic distraction. A distraction that may cost the Bengals a chance to repeat as AFC North champions.

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