Mike Shanahan is known to take a risk or two.
So signing Travis Henry last March, despite the former University of Tennessee running back’s previous four-game suspension for marijuana use, didn’t exactly scare the Denver Broncos’ on- and off-field boss away. Now, with Henry fighting an expected yearlong suspension from the NFL for again violating the league’s substance abuse policy in court, that risk will come with a heavy price.
“I talked to him about that,” Shanahan said in March at the annual owners meetings about his prized free-agent addition. “He knows this is his last chance. He knows if he screws up, he’s gone. Sometimes that’s better than a guy who’s only got one strike. When a guy knows he doesn’t get another chance and he’s got a chance for financial security on a great team, he’s got a chance to do something special.
“For him to take a chance to do anything would be completely stupid.”
That time may already have passed.
This time, it may not only cost the league’s leading rusher time but a substantial sum of money if it plays out against him, since the Broncos have written protections into Henry’s contract relating to his past drug use.
His $22.5 million contract included $12 million in bonuses and included a clause that forced Henry to repay his $6 million signing bonus — if he had received all of the money — if he was suspended for drugs.
Henry’s signing bonus had been split into five payments and he has received $2 million of it over three payments as of this month. He was scheduled to get another $1 million payment next month and a $3 million in March ’08.
With a suspension, he would have to forfeit the $2 million he had received and it would be unlikely the Broncos would follow through with the other payments.
League sources said Henry filed a lawsuit on Sept. 20 in Suffolk County (N.Y.) Supreme Court attempting to get a restraining order that prevented the league from using a urine specimen against him and making the test results public. That request apparently was granted, but the NFL got an appellate court to vacate the order, the sources said. On Monday, the league went to federal court in Brooklyn in an attempt to have the lawsuit transferred to their jurisdiction, because that branch generally handles labor laws and it’s the NFL’s contention that collective bargaining issues are in dispute.
Henry reportedly is claiming that the NFL violated its own substance abuse policy by not allowing his experts to be on hand when the urine sample was tested. The NFL, sources said, is contending the rules are clear that players can have their own expert present for testing, but that the expert cannot be affiliated with a lab or testing service and that Henry’s expert was affiliated with a lab.
League sources said Henry is trying to stop the league from testing his “B” sample, which would confirm he has already had a positive test. It is also believed Henry has tested positive for marijuana.
Broncos officials were unavailable for comment and team vice president of communications Jim Saccomano said there would be no official statements from the club.
Greg Aiello, the league’s senior vice president of public relations, declined to discuss Henry’s status, citing confidentiality issues. But Aiello did confirm the court action against the running back.
Henry previously served a four-week, league-imposed suspension in September 2005 while playing for the Tennessee Titans and would have been eligible to rotate out of the substance-abuse program had he stayed clean for two years. It’s unclear exactly when the latest test was administered. But Henry’s two-year term in the league’s program, which includes increased testing, was set to expire Oct. 1. The initial lawsuit was filed Sept. 20. Henry would have to reapply for reinstatement to the league should the one-year suspension come to pass. Upon his introduction in Denver, the running back admitted he had off-field issues with marijuana but claimed he’d walk a straight line for a team that placed its trust in him.
It’s the second time Henry has been in the news for off-the-field travails since joining the Broncos. A child paternity suit filed in Georgia revealed Henry has fathered nine children by nine different women. Henry hasn’t discussed that side of his personal life other than to reveal that he takes care of his offspring.
Henry is nursing a sprained right ankle and knee this week and hasn’t practiced the last two days.
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Comments » 21
wyomingvol writes:
Say Cheeeeeesssseee!
Too bad.
hdhurst writes:
Maybe he and Crews can hook up sometime and talk about what it was like to play at UT. What a waste of tallent!!!Same ole, same ole...not making the most of their unique opportunity that others only dream about.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Unbelievable. Cheese, don't be stupid. Put that phooey away and grow up. You say you take care of your nine "offspring?" Great role model there, Dad.
iowavol writes:
Too bad, he has having the best year of career - looks absolutely awesome. I don't understand why other backs don't use a stiff arm as effectively as he does. I can still see him running around the right side and pushing a Florida LB to the ground with a stiff arm to the helmet. Amazing strength. Fairly prolific with the ladies too.
vol4good#206163 writes:
Would you like fries with that "Cheese Burger" Sir?
NOLAvol writes:
[Before the post, kudos to iowavol for resisting the temptation to make the obvious segway from "stiffarm" to sexual prowess!]
Hey--whether it's tokin' or pokin'--if it feels good, DO IT!
(...until you go bankrupt)
But even then, maybe you can bum a nickel for another toke so for a half-hour you can get some relief from forever thinking about the future you COULD have had, and being reminded of how many OTHER people's futures would have been so much brighter, but for the harmless, natural desire to "feel good"--are your reading this, young Mr. Crews?
bigbluevol writes:
Wow...the anti-Fulmer venom seems to be spilling over to other facets of the Vols. Travis obviously has some issues. He's still a human being and as a former Vol, we should be praying for him and wishing for the best for him. Hiresanders, it was Jason Respert and sometimes 18-22 year olds make poor choices. That's life. It doesn't make it ok, but I'm sure everyone has done things they regret. Manning's incident isn't worth mentioning and most of the rest of the guys you named made their mistakes after they left UT. Don't forget about the quality players we've had here: Reggie White, Travis Stephens, Robert Meachem, Todd Kelly, Andy Kelly, Jeff Hall, John Becksvoort, Leaverton, Westmoreland, Al Wilson, etc.
txsvol#372416 writes:
Now we know why Cheese has so many kids--blowing weed caused him to lose his inhibitions. I saw yesterday where some Bronco fans want Ricky Williams to resume his NFL career in the Mile High City. Apparently because of the thin atmosphere, the local police don't notice the aroma there, and it is only the NFL enforcement people who will keep their backs from playing. My guess is that Shanahan, whose daughter attended Texas, where she roomed with Jenna Bush, would offer Williams a job, if he can still play. "Who Moved My Cheese?"
1volk-nowi-tall writes:
Wouldn't it have been enlightening to follow people like hiresanders and others who spout such purity around when they were young. They probable still go out and do the same things that they condem these athletes for. Of course we don't want to see the negative behavior, but what these self-righteous windbags are not telling us is that most of them do similar things or have done similar things in their own lives..
bigbluevol writes:
So now it's Fulmer's fault that Henry has a drug problem? You've got to be kidding me. Henry has a problem, he needs help. Fulmer isn't responsible for the choices Henry has made. Take it easy guys.
bigbluevol writes:
So that's Fulmer's fault? Individuals are responsible for their own choices. For all the bad examples you named, there are many times more than that who are good kids.
juicetke#226846 writes:
Do the Agriculture majors grow this stuff on campus and put in everyone's locker or what. How come it seems all the athletes like the wacky weed?
bigbluevol writes:
sanders, again, you've got to be joking. He kicked Nilo Sylvan off the team because he was accused of rape, even though Sylvan was later found not guilty. Onterrio Smith, who you mentioned, was kicked off the team. Lynn McGruder, also kicked off the team. Tony Robinson wasn't his recruit. Nor were Cobb or Webb. Little made his mistakes after he left UT, as did Dwayne Goodrich and now Travis Henry. A lot of these kids come from some pretty hard backgrounds. Does that make it ok? No. Should they be given a chance? Absolutely. Travis Henry seems to be as much a victim of his own wealth and fame as anything else. He's not the first one to fall into that trap, nor will he be the last. Stop trying to blame everything on Fulmer.
volintexas writes:
Knucklehead
DarthVol writes:
Who else could go for some bbq pork rinds right now?
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
you know, it's just too bad these kids aren't drunks and wife beaters. That would settle MUCH better wuth the average UT fan. Oh yeah, the roids are good, since they make our players bigger and stronger, right??
Now, I want get into the argument of alcohol being more harmful than weed. Henry has violated stips in his contract, so he is screwed. Heck, maybe they'll put clauses in YOUR contracts about you eating twinkies and being lardasses. Point is, if they do and you sign it....
TommyJack writes:
T. Henry showing bad judgement, huh? Imagine that..
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
...and one more, tiny, insig point.
most of you seem to be white, semi-middle class types. most of the people you trash on this board are black. the coaches you trash recruit these black athletes.
I grew up with black kids. they are not bad people by any stretch. their values are different, their families are different. they are great friends.
I think a lot of what you guys post is condesending and hard-hearted. some of you are pretty good: "too bad travis can't get control" but some of you are "oh how stupid can you be".
I feel bad for the guy; he is f*cking up and can't seem to help it. maybe you like to see famous people get hosed, but I hate to see people failing becasue they can't seem to get control.
Colliervol writes:
The desire for a little weed is going to cost him somewhere around $10 million. How you can sugar coat that with the "different values" argument is beyond me. "Can't seem to get control." Now that's the understatement of the year. The only endorsement deal he's going to get is either for NORML or Planned Parenthood.
awsue0860#641165 writes:
Number 1 - Why do you think those women had sex with Henry ? No...not opportunity to have large chunks of cash in the form of Child Support, due to his NFL earnings. Never understood how a woman, granted child support ( AS IT SHOULD BE ) from an athlete or anyone else that makes a lot of cash, All of a sudden has a brand new, expensive vehicle, new clothes - designer of course, big, new house ( 5 bdrms for her and her kid ), when the Child Support, I thought, was for the kid ?
Number 2 - No excuse, but this kid isnt the sharpest tool in the shed. Kids like this need someone, that is around them all the time, to help them, coach them, watch them and basically keep them from making mistakes like the ones he has made. And, these kids, what were their birth dates ? Anyone. Thanks
awsue0860#641165 writes:
That herb must be like steriods to Travis ! Hell, he's leading the league in rushing ! Can you imagine if they were allowed to smoke, like in the NBA !( now, think people. They don't bust em in the NBA ! )
Now, that would be something to watch !
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