Henson's decision to leave Michigan makes little sense

Sporting News, The, April 2, 2001 by Tom Dienhart

I have one question for Drew Henson: Why now?

Then again, this is a world that's in a big rush to have people grow up. There is no time to savor things. Just punch the accelerator toward tomorrow. So Henson's decision to take the Yankees' offer of $17 million over six years shouldn't come as a surprise.

After all, the Yankees, who are pro sports' equivalent to the kid with peanuts, popcorn and Cracker Jack who still has his face pressed against the glass case at the concession stand, always seem to get what they want.

But Henson could have said no. Henson should have said no.

If Henson, a 6-5 powerhitting third base prospect who was re-acquired by New York last week, was going to do this, why didn't he commit full-time to the Yankees out of high school? That's what Josh Booty, Quincy Carter and Chris Weinke, among others, did. They gave baseball the ol' college try. After bombing out, they turned to college football.

Why did Henson invest three years in a college football career and then bail out? Yes, his bargaining power has improved, but it would have been even better with a strong senior season on his resume. As it stands, Henson will make about $3 million a year. As the top pick in the 2002 NFL draft, which many think Henson would have been, his signing bonus certainly would have been more substantial than the $1 million he got from the Yankees. Top pick Courtney Brown got a $10.03 million signing bonus and an $800,000 reporting bonus last year. But instead of playing one more year at Michigan, Henson bails. It makes no sense.

It makes even less sense when you consider what Henson often has said the university means to him. He grew up in Brighton, Mich., not far from the Michigan campus. He dreamed of wearing a winged helmet. He dreamed of being serenaded with The Victors. He dreamed of running onto the field at the Big House anti jumping and touching that "Go Blue M Club Supports You" banner. He was living his dream.

Now, a guy who has posted modest minor league numbers (.275 average with 23 home runs, 88 RBIs and 187 strikeouts in 600 at-bats) can look forward to tinny organ music in Class AAA ball in front of a smattering of fans.

Devoting himself full-time to baseball figures to make him better at it. Last year, he hit .266 with nine homers in 308 at-bats in Class AA. Henson is considered the heir apparent to Scott Brosius at third base, and Joe Torre calls him a "future superstar." Assuming all goes well, Henson will be in the bigs in 2002.

Still, Henson looked like more of a sure thing for the other league--in which there is a constant hunger for quarterbacks.

A backup his first two seasons at Michigan behind Tom Brady, Henson became the man last year, even though he didn't start the first four games because of a broken right foot. Still, he flashed the potential that made some anoint him the best schoolboy athlete ever produced in the state. Henson completed 146 of 237 passes for 2,146 yards with 18 touchdowns and four interceptions. Some thought he could have declared for the 2001 draft and been a top-five pick considering the dearth of good quarterbacks in the class.

Michigan should be the favorite in the Big Ten even without Henson, who would have been a front-runner for the Heisman. It's a league in which there appears to be no dominant team. Among the contenders, Northwestern, Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois and Purdue have as many pressing questions as Michigan.

Sophomore John Navarre will step into the starter's role. He started the first four games last year and finished the season hitting 40 of 77 passes for 583 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception. Navarre eventually might be overtaken by Jermaine Gonzales, a 6-4 redshirt freshman who has more athletic ability.

Regardless of who is taking snaps Michigan has the defensive depth to be a force. The front seven is especially deep.

Henson, meanwhile, has a different dream.

"To me, there would be no greater goal than to help win a World Series for the New York Yankees," he says. "I will keep memories of the University of Michigan close to my heart."

There were more memories to be made this season. There was no rush.

inside dish

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