As the NFL draft approaches, "SportsCenter" is putting every NFL team with a first-round pick "On the Clock," and Scouts Inc. will break down each team and look at what questions still need answering.

This could be a playoffs-or-else scenario for head coach Marvin Lewis. He initially did a great job of changing the expectations for a perennial loser, but the Bengals' defense consistently has been among worst in the league since this defensive guru took over. To make matters worse, Pro Bowl WR Chad Johnson has made a lot of noise about wanting out, which would make it even tougher for Lewis to right this ship.

The Bengals have talent, but they faced a tremendous number of injuries last year, especially at linebacker. However, they are one of the few franchises in the league with tremendous stability at quarterback (Carson Palmer), which goes a long way toward helping overcome other deficiencies.

Key Additions
The Bengals are notoriously frugal, and while they had interest in quite a few prominent free agents, they didn't ante up to land most of their targets. They did sign DE Antwan Odom, who is an up-and-coming player with a lot of potential, but it remains to be seen how he will perform without the Titans' supporting cast. Adding to the risk, he doesn't have experience playing in a 3-4 scheme, which likely will be Cincinnati's primary defense in 2008.

(March 24, 2008, Paul Brown Stadium) (Opening day, Offseason Workout Program)

Q. How’s it going?

A. First off, it’s nice to be be able to come back and start the season off fresh, you know?

Q. What do you hope for this spring, summer and fall?

A. I just want all the guys to be back together and get the kind of chemistry we need to want to play for each other once the season comes.

“Please let’s not fall into the same trap like we did with Chris Henry thinking that no player is dumb enough to get into trouble more than twice.  Mr. Henry has painfully made it clear to Bengals fans that this is just not the case.  As a matter of fact, he was able to double his "trouble production" and get hit up four times for his stupidity”

This insert is from an article that we wrote back in January.  Chris Henry is finally gone and so is all of his baggage.  The Cincinnati Bengals finally pulled the turf out from under Henry.  The would be thug/football player has now been charged with his final offense as A Bengal. 
I am not one to pile on, but the days of people saying this is just a kid who needs to get his act straightened out are over.  Chris Henry is a great football player, but he is also a grade a Thug! 

I cannot imagine how this guy is going to feel some day when he looks back and realizes that he flushed millions of dollars away along with a career in the NFL.  The first, second, and third offense you are young, misguided, in mature, misunderstood, the fifth offense and you are really nothing more than a criminal that happens to have some superior football skills.  Once you have spent more time in jail and kicked out of the league than you have actually playing in the the league, then the writing is on the wall.

The Cincinnati Bengals apparently are tired of Chris Henry’s off-field antics.

The Bengals released Henry on Thursday, one day after the talented but troubled wide receiver was arrested for the fifth time since 2005.

Henry, 24, will appear in court Thursday after allegedly punching an 18-year-old man in the head and throwing a beer bottle at his car three days ago. Hamilton County Court documents say that both the victim, Gregory Meyer, and witnesses identified Henry as the attacker.

The latest run-in with the law evidently was too much for the Bengals, who issued a statement announcing Henry’s release.

“Chris Henry has forfeited his opportunity to pursue a career with the Bengals,” team president Mike Brown said. “His conduct can no longer be tolerated. The Bengals tried for an extended period of time to support Chris and his potentially bright career.”

The Cincinnati Bengals should trade wide receiver Chad Johnson.

They have never won a playoff game with him. Coming off a 93-catch season, at age 30, Johnson’s trade value probably never will be higher. And if the Bengals stubbornly keep Johnson, they likely will face a dysfunctional season from an unhappy star player who clearly wants out.

This is not an easy situation for the Bengals, who keep insisting Johnson will not be traded. Trading Johnson, who is signed through 2011, would force the Bengals to take a huge salary cap hit this year, reportedly in the neighborhood of $8 million. Trading Johnson also would mean giving up one of the NFL’s best receivers.

But the longer this situation lasts, the more flammable it will get. Johnson already has skipped the Bengals’ strength and conditioning program. That is only the beginning.   Considering his outspoken history, it is almost impossible to imagine an unhappy Johnson reporting to training camp on time, keeping his mouth shut and not being a HUGE distraction.

So Chad Johnson wants out of Cincinnati in part because of what some columnist wrote about him?  Sensitive guy. Lucky he doesn't play in New York.  Seriously, though, the Bengals are in a tough spot if they actually intend to trade Chad. No way they'll get fair market value if it appears they are up against the wall.

And dream on if you think you're getting a first-round draft choice and a starter for him. The time to trade him was last year, before he went completely off the rails and started boycotting workouts and talking about playing arena ball. But who could have foreseen this kind of meltdown?

You've got to feel for quarterback Carson Palmer, whose two starting receivers are skipping the voluntary offseason program. Palmer's a class act who just wants to win, and he's surrounded by clowns.