Same Song, Different Verse

Today's tragic news that wide receiver Chris Henry from the Cincinnati Bengals had died from wounds sustained after falling out of a pick-up truck is all too familiar.

Henry was just 26 years old. He'd had a troubled past, having been arrested four times and been suspended by the league for misconduct. By all accounts, Henry had, in the last year, straightened his life out, figuring out what was important, and creating a future that looked bright and hopeful. In fact, he'd recently had a new tattoo added, it said simply "Blessed".

As a Redskins fan, this is an all too familiar tune. Two years ago, we suffered the loss of 24 year old Sean Taylor. Young and troubled, changed by the experience of becoming a father. And murdered in his home by intruders trying to rob him.

Granted, the news on Henry is that he jumped in the back of a pickup truck, driven by his fiancee after a dispute of some sort. He fell out of that pickup truck about half a mile away from her parent's home. Now, I have no idea if she fled in fear for her life, or just in a huff.

Either way though, my heart goes out to another family, another team, and another fanbase dealing with the senseless death of someone so young. And again, right at the holidays. It truly is a tragic loss.