The Cincinnati Bengals: Snow Accumulation Totals Aside, This Game Will Be A Must-See
Posted: Sunday, December 20, 2009
by Edward Rhymes
Unlike many games that will be played on the East Coast today, there will be no frantic groundskeepers shoveling snow off the field in sunny San Diego in the Bengals match-up against the Chargers. Nevertheless, there will be a dark cloud hanging over this Cincinnati team as they take the field for the first time since the passing of their teammate, wide receiver Chris Henry.
Today's contest was already pregnant with playoff and division championship possibilities for both teams, and now there is the added ingredient of a death that will serve as a powerful backdrop.
The Bengals have faced similar circumstances this season when the beloved wife (Vikki) of their defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer, died suddenly this past October. In the aftermath of that tragedy, the Bengals rallied around their coach and won an emotional and hard-fought game against their division rival the Baltimore Ravens 17-14.
These are somewhat different circumstances this time around however. Chris Henry was one of them . He suited-up; showered; bunked; practiced and played with these guys. He was an integral part of this team before he sustained a season-ending injury (broken arm) after their November 8th win against the Ravens --- the Bengals haven't had a significant deep threat since Henry went on IR.
We all have faced tragedy, even the death of our loved ones, in our lives at one time or another. Yet, how many of us have had to deal with it in such a public way? These men who play a violent sport and are at the pinnacle of their trade, the NFL, are probably feeling their mortality and the uncertainty of life in a new and very real way.
I've written about conducting a chapel service for an NFL team in the wake of a tragedy (the Buffalo Bills and the near-paralysis of their teammate Kevin Everett) and it was difficult to say the least; but this a passing away. There will be no hospital visits; there will be no phone calls; there will be no hugs or warm handshakes.
Today, this game transcends football; today a sober reality has been injected into the vein of American sports. I don't think that it is, at all, presumptuous of me to believe that each and every one of us today, even if only for the briefest of moments, will be a Cincinnati Bengal.
The Bengals have faced similar circumstances this season when the beloved wife (Vikki) of their defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer, died suddenly this past October. In the aftermath of that tragedy, the Bengals rallied around their coach and won an emotional and hard-fought game against their division rival the Baltimore Ravens 17-14.
These are somewhat different circumstances this time around however. Chris Henry was one of them . He suited-up; showered; bunked; practiced and played with these guys. He was an integral part of this team before he sustained a season-ending injury (broken arm) after their November 8th win against the Ravens --- the Bengals haven't had a significant deep threat since Henry went on IR.
We all have faced tragedy, even the death of our loved ones, in our lives at one time or another. Yet, how many of us have had to deal with it in such a public way? These men who play a violent sport and are at the pinnacle of their trade, the NFL, are probably feeling their mortality and the uncertainty of life in a new and very real way.
I've written about conducting a chapel service for an NFL team in the wake of a tragedy (the Buffalo Bills and the near-paralysis of their teammate Kevin Everett) and it was difficult to say the least; but this a passing away. There will be no hospital visits; there will be no phone calls; there will be no hugs or warm handshakes.
Today, this game transcends football; today a sober reality has been injected into the vein of American sports. I don't think that it is, at all, presumptuous of me to believe that each and every one of us today, even if only for the briefest of moments, will be a Cincinnati Bengal.
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