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Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The Cincinnati Bengals signed troubled wide receiver Chris Henry on Tuesday.

The Bengals released Henry on April 3 after his fifth arrest since the club made him their third-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Charges for that arrest were later dropped, and, subsequently, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's indefinite suspension was revised to a four-game ban.

For his repeated violations of the league's personal conduct policy, Henry will miss the first four games of the 2008 season, but will still be able to participate in practice and preseason games. However, during the suspension, which starts on September 1, Henry will also be held out of practice.

Bengals take another chance on Henry....

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia man has been charged with trying to blackmail New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin by threatening to expose a fictitious sexual tryst.

Federal prosecutors said Thursday that 30-year-old Herbert Alex Simpson sent Coughlin a pair of phony letters from two women last month.

The letters demanded the coach pay $20,000 to $30,000 or his life would be made "a living hell by doing something to (his) family."

Philly man charged with blackmailing Giants coach....

By MARK CRAIG , Star Tribune

GREEN BAY, WIS. - Three days after the gleeful touchdown at Austin Straubel International Airport, Brett Favre was back on a plane to Hattiesburg, Miss., on Wednesday morning, leaving Green Bay for the last time as a Packer -- and just hours from a late-night trade that sent him to the New York Jets for his 18th NFL season.

The Packers, meanwhile, returned to practice knowing that Favre's days in Geen Bay were over as trade talks with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jets continued into the night. General Manager Ted Thompson was scheduled to address the media at 11:30 a.m., but that was eventually cancelled as the team wrapped up its second practice at about 9 p.m.

Favre told ESPN before leaving Green Bay that he was eager to get into training camp somewhere.

Packers trade Favre to Jets....

By CHRIS JENKINS

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Brett Favre left Lambeau Field just before Green Bay Packers practice Tuesday afternoon, taking a right turn out of the stadium's back gate — away from the field where the rest of his teammates were assembling for drills.

Favre emerged from the stadium's loading dock exit at 2:34 p.m. EDT Tuesday, hugging Packers senior security advisor Jerry Parins before getting in his SUV and driving away. Shortly after, an SUV driven by Packers general manager Ted Thompson left the gate heading in the same direction.

"We're at a stalemate," Favre told ESPN Tuesday morning. "Mike and I both agreed last night that me being out there is a distraction and will continue to be a distraction. We all know the reason I'm here is because the commissioner reinstated me so we have a lot of things to figure out. It's simple and complicated, both at the same time."

The continued disagreement on Favre's role could accelerate trade talks, perhaps with the Minnesota Vikings — something Packers officials have suspected Favre wanted all along but have been firmly opposed to giving him.

Favre was back at Lambeau earlier Tuesday, less than 12 hours after a late-night meeting between Favre and Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy concluded. Not that the two necessarily reached any conclusions.

Favre and McCarthy were supposed to talk about Favre's commitment to football and his role on the team Monday night. The fact that the meeting ran several hours over its allotted time was a strong hint that it went beyond simply welcoming Favre back to compete with Aaron Rodgers for the starting job.

Favre told ESPN he doesn't have a problem with competing with Rodgers for the starting job, and can "truly understand" why McCarthy would make Rodgers the starter. But Favre also said a competition "probably isn't going to work" and that "the problem is that there's been a lot of damage done and I can't forget it."

Favre's role still in doubt, practice unlikely....

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has ruled that the Minnesota Vikings did not tamper with Brett Favre in trying to get the quarterback to sign with them.

Goodell said that while there were conversations between then-retired Favre and Vikings coaches, that none of the conversations suggested Favre was soliciting a job or that anyone was soliciting his services.

The Packers had filed the charges, based at least in part between records of phone conversations between Favre and Darrell Bevell, Minnesota's offensive coordinator. Bevell is a former Green Bay assistant and a friend of Favre's.

Favre unretired and was scheduled to report to the Packers' training camp Monday.

Goodell says Vikings didn't tamper on Favre....

By Ed Werder
ESPN.com

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Brett Favre on Sunday, the three-time MVP said.

The Packers couldn't confirm the reinstatement, and said because it wasn't an offical business day for the league it wasn't possible Sunday.

Nevertheless, Favre was prepared to fly to Green Bay in time to attend the sold-out Packers Family Night at Lambeau Field, which more than 60,000 fans were expected to attend.

On Saturday, Goodell said he hoped the situation would be resolved by Monday, by which team and league sources told ESPN's Wendi Nix that he was expected to act on the reinstatement.

Goodell visited the Cincinnati Bengals' training camp on Saturday before heading north to Canton, Ohio, for the weekend's Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

"I'm not trying to interject myself," Goodell said in Georgetown, Ky., according to The Associated Press. "I was interjected into it because there was a tampering charge initially. I'm not looking for things to interject myself to. It's an issue that needs to be addressed because of the competing interests. You want to make sure it's done properly and within our rules. This is an issue that ultimately has to be decided between Brett and the Packers."

The Packers hold Favre's rights until his current contract expires after the 2010 season.

Tensions have built between Favre and the team over the past several weeks.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy again praised his players for not allowing the Favre situation to distract them.

Favre says Goodell has reinstated him....

Fred Dean, defensive end/linebacker, 1975-1985, San Diego and San Francisco. Considered the top pass rusher of his era, helped 49ers win two Super Bowls.

Darrell Green, cornerback, 1982-2002, Washington. Had an interception in an NFL-record 19 consecutive seasons, was one of the fastest players in league history.

Art Monk, receiver, 1980-95, Washington, N.Y. Jets, Philadelphia. Played 14 seasons for the Redskins, had NFL-record 940 catches when he retired.

Emmitt Thomas, cornerback, 1966-78, Kansas City. Had 58 career interceptions, has coached in the NFL since 1981, including stint with Vikings.

Andre Tippett, linebacker, 1982-93, New England. Had 100 career sacks for a Patriots team that struggled for much of his 12 seasons.

Gary Zimmerman, tackle, 1986-1997, Minnesota and Denver. Ironman lineman was on NFL's all-decade team in both the 1980s and 1990s.

NFL Hall of Fame class of 2008....