While there was speculation that Travis Henry wasn’t exactly welcomed back this season to the Denver Broncos, Mike Shanahan surprised us all by letting him go this early in the offseason workouts.
After all, the guy has nine baby mamas with one child apiece. Eighteen mouths don’t feed themselves, and Shanahan has to have some heart inside that burned-brown, leather exterior.
Unfortunately for those 18 mouths, Henry injured his hamstring last month and most likely skipped out on treatments while he wasn’t showing up to OTAs.
The situation didn’t win Henry any gold stars for effort, and combined with Henry’s damaged rep from fighting a failed drug test suspension all of last season, the dogpile of problems probably caused Shanahan write him off as a bad influence on the litter of young running backs they have. (Selvin Young, Andre Hall, newly drafted Ryan Torain and last week’s new addition Michael Pittman).
Shanahan questioned Henry’s commitment to the game in his statement after the release. From ESPN.com:
“Although Travis has the ability to be one of the top running backs in the
NFL, we have to make decisions that are in the best interests of our organization and its goal of winning a Super Bowl,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said in a statement. “We did not feel his commitment to the Broncos was enough to warrant a spot on this football team.”
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Later Monday, Shanahan said the move was more about Henry’s personality than his play.
“He’s just too inconsistent as a person. When you’re too inconsistent as a person, you usually aren’t going to win championships,” Shanahan said during a spring workout later in the day.
With Travis Henry released, the Denver Broncos running game gets a little murky—and that’s clearer than it was before.
The running back situation in Denver was a weak link in 2007, and along with an inconsistent stock of wide receivers, the running game is one of the few elements keeping Jay Cutler from bringing his game together as a franchise quarterback. (If you remember, I made some early offseason predictions for three Broncos stars in 2008, and I’m still standing behind them without Henry.)
Rising to the top, Selvin Young averaged 5.2 yards per carry last season but isn’t the type (at least at his current weight and skill) to carry the full load even if he claims he will hit 2,000 yards this season.
It’s likely Young will split time with Michael Pittman who obviously made Shanahan confident enough to let Henry go.
Pittman, at 32, has passed his prime, but he should contribute enough to spell Young and sub in on some passing plays until Ryan Torain, the powerful rookie, is ready to take on a larger role.
Until the starting role becomes clearer, the running back situation will be the talk of all the Broncos training camp reports. If Young becomes the starter, look for him as a risky RB2 or a promising RB3 in round three or four.
Pittman might be worth a pick in late rounds if he gets a spot in a committee with Young. If not, he falls into the same indefinite boat as Andre Hall, but being lost in the RB depth chart in Denver doesn’t mean you won’t lead the team in rushing by the end of the year.
The real sleeper of this bunch is Ryan Torain. He could be the surprise RB to emerge for the Broncos this year and has nothing but upside. Stash him on your bench late or keep your eye on him on the waiver wire.
As for Henry, he is probably more likely to find work than Shaun Alexander, but there is not clear team interested in picking up him, his injury, and his off-the-field problems right now.
For now, he gets to stand in line with Alexander and Kevin Jones at the unemployment office.
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5 months ago
BEARS.
5 months ago
If Henry goes to the Bears, he would be adding more off-the-field problems to a team that got rid of less when they released Benson. I think Bears look at someone like Kevin Jones or Shaun Alexander first.
Henry's not out of the picture, but I think they look elsewhere first.
5 months ago
I doubt they would look at Kevin Jones, he has had many injuries in Detroit. Alexander on the other hand, he has had an injury yes, but I think he would be a much better addition to the Bears.
Former MVP with an injury, or Travis Henry with an injury.
Frankly, I don't have the slightest clue where Henry might be going, if I had to make a guess though,
I would say Carolina.
Carolina released DeShaun Foster, and now they only have DeAngelo Williams as a decent back.
5 months ago
Don't forget about Stewart in Carolina though. Carolina might just wait on Jonathan Stewart to get healthy and remedy their RB situation.
I'll give Shaun some credit, but I think Kevin Jones has the hype right now as being ready to come back and show a team what he can do. Alexander is sitting back right now, and I think if he gets a job anywhere (at his age), he will not be a starter and maybe not even an 10 carry per game guy. I would say veteran leadership, but Shaun's current image doesn't put him as much of a "team" guy.
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