Originally published Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 8:19 PM
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Fiancee speaks at funeral for NFL player Chris Henry
Chris Henry, 26, was killed after he fell out of the bed of pickup truck driven by his fiancee, Loleini Tonga, during what police called a domestic dispute.
WESTWEGO, La. — Chris Henry's fiancee wept as she spoke about the late Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tuesday, saying that while she often got credit for steering him clear of trouble, he changed her life as well.
Henry, 26, was killed after he fell out of the bed of pickup truck driven by his fiancee, Loleini Tonga, during what police called a domestic dispute. Police are investigating, but no charges have been filed.
Tonga, wearing large sunglasses, paused to gather herself repeatedly as she spoke to hundreds of mourners at his funeral — including Henry's teammates — who filled the grandstands at a suburban New Orleans events center. Tonga professed eternal love for Henry and promised to raise their children the way he would want.
"Can't nobody know the way I'm feeling right now. No one can explain the relationship that me and Chris had. In six years of knowing each other — through hard times, good times — we loved each other very much," she said. "People say I helped change his life. No. He changed mine."
Mourners clapped briefly as Tonga slowly made her way back to her seat.
Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer and head coach Marvin Lewis delivered eulogies.
Notes
• Former Seahawks wide receiver Joey Galloway has been added to the Pittsburgh Steelers' roster. Galloway was cut by New England earlier this season after catching seven passes for 67 yards.
• Quarterback Brady Quinn's uneven season is over, and so is his chance to impress new Browns president Mike Holmgren. Quinn was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with an unspecified foot injury, the second straight season he has finished on IR. Derek Anderson will start on Sunday.
• The NFL Players Association has challenged the league's right to eliminate a supplemental revenue-sharing program among the 32 teams. The program the league plans to terminate involves the top 15 revenue teams placing funds into a pool from which many of the lower income clubs can draw. It does not include television money or box-office revenues.
• The Saints cut kicker John Carney, a 21-year NFL veteran.
• Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly appeared briefly in a Houston courtroom Tuesday to answer refiled charges he illegally possessed at least 200 grams of codeine. A police brief says Jolly's car was pulled over on July 8, 2008, because of excessive noise coming from amplified bass music. Jolly was arrested after police "smelled the strong odor of codeine" in cups in the vehicle.
• A former UPS driver has sued Joe Namath, alleging he was attacked by the Hall of Fame quarterback's dogs while making a delivery at his Florida home. This isn't the first dispute over Namath's dogs. One was ordered last month to be muzzled and leashed full-time.
• Bills cornerback Terrence McGee is done for the season, needing rotator-cuff surgery, and it's suddenly unclear who'll start at quarterback this weekend after injuries forced Buffalo to re-sign former third-stringer Gibran Hamdan. Hamdan was a member of the Seahawks in 2006, but did not play in the regular season. Untested second-year quarterback Brian Brohm could get the start for Buffalo.
UPDATE - 07:23 AM
NFL, union resume labor talks at mediator's office
League, players still almost $800 million apart on revenue haring
Union, league negotiators to resume talks Monday | NFL
No new deal in NFL labor talks; deadline extended
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