Panthers reflect on Henry's death

The Panthers took time Thursday to reflect on the death of Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry, who died earlier today at Carolinas Medical Center.

“We compete every week against each other, but for the most part, across teams, there is a unity among players,” said receiver Muhsin Muhammad. “We all typically have relationships across the teams and look out for each other across the teams. We have a general care about each other past the rivalries and the nature of the competition.”

Coach John Fox said the Panthers scouted Henry before the 2005 draft when he was at West Virginia. He was chosen in the third round by the Bengals.

“I knew him a little from that,” he said. “It’s shocking, for it to happen to a young person – any person,” said coach John Fox.

Defensive tackle Damione Lewis said it will be difficult for the Bengals to focus on their remaining three regular-season games. The playoffs are also a real possibility for Cincinnati, which is in first place in the AFC North.

“I don’t know how they’re going to do it,” said Lewis. “When you have such a close-knit and family-oriented team, that would be devastating to us. My hat goes off to (the Bengals) and we wish them the best.”

Practice squad linebacker Mortty Ivy was a freshman at West Virginia during Henry's final season with the Mountaineers.

“I’m sorry to hear about his life (ending) so early,” Ivy said. “He was a great guy. I hung out with him a lot of times just playing ball and hanging out and relaxing, getting to know each other, especially when I was a true freshman (at West Virginia).”

Henry, who had off-field problems earlier in his career, had turned his life around.

“When you get that second chance or that third chance, you want to make the best of it,” said Ivy. “He definitely turned it around. You didn’t hear anything about him. All you heard was good things. Now, you hear about this.” -- David Scott and Charles Chandler