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Woe, Henry: promise lost

Injuries, off-field drama erase running back's early successes

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 20, 2007 at 12:45 a.m.

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Travis Henry

Travis Henry

Travis Henry lies injured on Detroit's Ford Field on Nov. 4. He hurt his right knee in a 44-7 loss. Henry has carried 35 times for 100 yards since returning to the lineup three games ago.

Photo by Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky

Travis Henry lies injured on Detroit's Ford Field on Nov. 4. He hurt his right knee in a 44-7 loss. Henry has carried 35 times for 100 yards since returning to the lineup three games ago.

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All in all, it has been a season to forget for Travis Henry.

Three 100-yard rushing games in the first four weeks had the Broncos tailback on pace for his stated goal of 1,500 yards in his first year in Denver.

Yet that level of performance hasn't happened again, primarily because of heath issues, which have relegated one of the team's biggest free-agent acquisitions to backup duties or inactive status for much of the season's second half.

There initially was a rib problem that cost him a game, then a lingering knee injury that necessitated sitting out three more and continues to limit him.

And there were the much-publicized off- field travails that eventually ended in Henry's favor but, throughout the process, tested his mental toughness.

For now, Henry is planning to put as much of an exclamation point on his season as he can, beginning Monday in San Diego (6:30 p.m. MST, CBS 4, ESPN).

But in the near future, Henry plans to carry with him the sense he has something to prove all over again once he gets his body right.

"Without a doubt, and I like it that way, too," Henry said Wednesday. "Because of what happened, the whole season was just draining, especially for me, dealing with the off-the-field situation, just the injuries and not really getting my feet up under me like I should have. It's just something to shoot for. And I'm going to be that much hungrier and that much more excited about this offseason to come back and do my thing."

A partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament has been the biggest impediment to his success. Henry originally was injured when he was dragged to the turf in the Broncos' 44-7 loss at Detroit on Nov. 4 and banged his right knee awkwardly.

He has carried 35 times for only 100 yards since returning to the lineup, though he has been effective near the goal line, with three touchdowns.

"I can say this: I'm not like I was at the beginning of the year. That's the truth," Henry said. "On a scale of one to 10, 10 being the highest, I'd say I'm, like, a seven."

Noticeably absent of late has been Henry's quickness to the hole and, once he arrives there, his open-field burst.

"And that's my game - that burst," he said. "It's one of those things where I talked to a couple of players who've had it, and it ain't going to heal up this season. I can't have surgery on it. So I'm just dealing with it, man."

Because of the toll on his body, Henry is planning to take more time off once the season ends.

"This is my first time being just injured in my whole career," he said. "I've gotten nicked up here and there, but every week, something was going on with me. So I'll find a strategy to do so I can still be in tip-top shape, plus have fresher legs and do my deal."

Ultimately, Henry might have to redo his contract, although, at this point, with the Broncos missing the playoffs for a second straight season, anything figures to be considered, including the status quo.

Since the running back won his case against the NFL regarding its drug-testing policies, Henry is owed a $6 million option bonus next season. And with Selvin Young having a productive rookie season, the Broncos might balk at such a steep investment.

On the other hand, coach Mike Shanahan frequently has talked glowingly about Henry's early-season production, pointing out that aspect often is forgotten when evaluating the player.

"Just because he was hurt doesn't mean the guy can't play," Shanahan said earlier this month.

And Henry provides a more pounding, between-the-tackles element than does Young. Plus, despite the unpleasant headlines relating to Henry's case, he was exonerated.

"It's a business. That's how I look at it," Henry said when asked whether he was confident he'll return for a second season with the Broncos. "Do I think they want me back? Yeah, I do. But like I said, it's a business. So you have to go to work and do your job and not worry about, 'Are they going to keep me next year?' or 'Am I going to be this or that?' It's up to them, and they do what they want to do."

The Broncos have been inconsistent running the football overall. Even with Young, Henry and third-stringer Andre Hall missing time, the team ranks eighth in the league in rushing offense (124.1) and third in yards per attempt (4.5).

The Broncos are closing in on the 1,500-mark. But Henry has accounted for 680 yards of that total, Young has 603 and Hall 206. That's not exactly what Henry expected when he thought he could do that alone.

"By far, it's been the injuries," Henry said of falling short of his personal goals. "I was leading the league in the fifth week. So it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see I was onto something good. I finish out the way I started the year, everybody would be like, 'Whoa.' But getting hurt and all the off-the-field issues, it is what it is. I'm looking to finish strong and win these last two games, then go back to the drawing board."

rasizerl@RockyMountainNews.com

Comments

  • December 20, 2007

    7:12 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    El_Mariachi writes:

    Yeah, but he has 9 little bodies in 4 different states to greet him at the door...after a hard fought "loss"!!!

  • December 20, 2007

    8:52 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LarryB writes:

    Ummm . . . I don't understand what "nine little bodies" has to do with production as a running back.

    Anyway, I have read and heard the comments about Young, where teammates have exclaimed they haven't seen such cutback abilitly since Terrell Davis. If Young gains about ten pounds, as he implied he would, he is going to be some stiff competition for Henry at the starting position.

    It looks as if Henry is going to have either to renegotiate or to find another deal, and another deal, to his satisfaction, may not be easy for him at this stage.

    Frankly, Javon is the one I want back . . . then worry about Henry.

  • December 20, 2007

    9:10 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jgellsworth writes:

    Overpaid and underperformed....the truth is he can't carry us to a win.

  • December 20, 2007

    9:58 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BirdonaWire writes:

    High priced runningbacks are not necessary in this system. Cut him. What we need is some help on the lines and get another stud linebacker, ie. Jonathan Vilma. Trade up to get either Howie Long's kid or the lineman from Michigan. Oh, someone get Shanny out of the tanning bed.

  • December 20, 2007

    11:37 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    lawdog93 writes:

    Henry is a great running back. He's just been injured this year. I do think he needs to renegotiate his contract though. If he does go, I have complete faith in Selvin and Andre.

  • December 20, 2007

    12:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    tootalljones writes:

    ANOTHER MIKE SHANAHAN FREE AGENT BUST!!!!!

  • December 20, 2007

    1:11 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DeimosJB writes:

    Get over the myth that Henry is "a great running back". Check the stats: Henry - Number of seasons over 1,000 yards = 3. Number of seasons under 730 yards = 3. 2007 is still up in the air, but I'm betting this will be year number 4 with under 800 yards. Bringing up injuries is not a valid defense either. Part of greatness is dealing with adversity, including injury. A more accurate description of Henry is "great potential, mediocre results".

  • December 28, 2007

    2:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    TheVentilator writes:

    WHAT WAS BOB MARLEYS' NUMBER IN HIGH SCHOOL?