CINCINNATI -- Wide receiver Chris Henry allegedly was involved in an altercation with a parking attendant on the eve of rejoining the Cincinnati Bengals from his eight-game suspension.
Henry practiced with the Bengals on Wednesday and will be eligible to play Sunday in Baltimore. Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him for the first half of the season for repeatedly violating the NFL's conduct policy.
The third-year receiver stayed out of trouble during the suspension and was allowed to practice with the team for the last two weeks. He sat out a 33-21 loss in Buffalo on Sunday that dropped his last-place team to 2-6.
On Tuesday night, police in Newport, Ky., a suburb on the other side of the Ohio River within view of Paul Brown Stadium, were called to an entertainment district following a dispute over a parking fee.
A parking attendant told police that Henry and another man parked their sport utility vehicle without paying. According to an incident report, the attendant said Henry argued loudly with him and said, "Don't you know who I am?"
The attendant told police that Henry threw a $5 bill on the ground, but it was returned to him and police were called.
No charges have been filed. Police told 35-year-old Jason Baker of Bellevue, Ky., that he could file a complaint with prosecutors if he wanted to pursue the matter. Baker didn't return a phone message on Wednesday.
The Bengals were aware of the report but had no comment, noting that no charges had been filed.
When Henry talked to reporters after practice Wednesday, he agreed to answer questions about football only. Henry, the team's No. 3 receiver, took some of the blame for Cincinnati's poor showing during his absence.
"I realize it," he said. "That's why it was killing me not being able to play. I kind of feel I let my teammates down by getting suspended."
Coach Marvin Lewis was noncommittal on how much Henry might play in Baltimore. Receiver Chad Johnson practiced Wednesday despite a stiff neck, and receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh sat out with a sore knee, but is expected to play.
Henry's teammates are glad to have him back, and know what he has to do for the rest of the season.
"Just stay out of trouble," running back Rudi Johnson said. "He doesn't have to prove anything on the field. We all know what he can do. All we need for him to do is just be on the field and be with us, and everything will be fine."
Henry worked out with the starting offense on Wednesday for the first time since training camp. Quarterback Carson Palmer has sensed a difference in Henry since he got his eight-game suspension.
"He's on a short leash and he knows that," Palmer said. "He's had to change a lot of things in his life, and has done a phenomenal job. It was so hard for him to be standing around for eight games and watching games on TV and watching from the sidelines.
"It just tore a hole in his heart, and I think he's really realized how much he loves football and how much he's missed it. It's just great to see him out there smiling and running around and to see him happy again."
The 6-foot-4 receiver is one of the Bengals' best options near the end zone, scoring nine touchdown last season in only 13 games. He also has the speed to get open deep.
Houshmandzadeh expects a more dangerous offense now that Henry is back.
"Obviously, it would help us," he said. "I think the coaches just might open up the play calling a little more, anyway."
Asked what he learned during his suspension, Henry said, "I've been sitting back and going through this little stuff, my little suspension or whatever, and I've had a lot of time to sit down and think about everything. I'll be back out here giving it my all."
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
