NONE SURPRISED HENRY IS GONE

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jun 3, 2008 | by FRANK SCHWAB

ENGLEWOOD - There wasn't much surprise among Denver Broncos players when running back Travis Henry was released Monday.

"That's on him," running back Andre Hall said. "He brought it on himself."

Henry was a no-show at team headquarters a few times over the past couple of weeks while he was nursing a hamstring injury and couldn't practice. Coach Mike Shanahan, who rarely releases a statement when players are cut, questioned Henry's commitment in a statement Monday morning. He said he didn't feel Henry's commitment was good enough to warrant a spot on the team.

Henry was mostly a headache for the Broncos during his one year with the team. He started well, even after an Atlanta Journal- Constitution story last August revealed he had nine children with nine women. He was the leading rusher in the NFL through four games. He never had another 100-yard game though. He fought the NFL for months over a positive drug test. He won an appeal in December and avoided a one-year suspension.

Henry also battled rib, ankle and knee injuries, which limited him on the field. He took a pay cut this offseason to stay with the team, then disappointed the Broncos with his work habits. He hurt his hamstring before Denver started its first offseason camp May 19. The Broncos thought Henry could return in a week, then he missed a second week. Before the Broncos' second camp started Monday, he was cut.

"To go where we want to go, everybody has to be going in the right direction," said Shanahan, who added he hadn't talked to Henry before releasing him. "He's just too inconsistent as a person. When you're too inconsistent as a person, you usually are not going to win championships."

Shanahan said he didn't regret sticking up for Henry last year when he was fighting the NFL over the positive drug test, because he thought Henry was innocent. Shanahan called him an excellent running back Monday. But he started falling out of favor this offseason -- Denver signed veteran running back Michael Pittman last week -- and Shanahan said Monday he couldn't count on Henry anymore.

"We're not going to let one guy take us down," Shanahan said.

"I know he's supposed to have been out here," Hall said of Henry staying away from the team headquarters. "A lot of guys are out here hurt, and he didn't show up."

Henry was unavailable for comment and his agent, Hadley Engelhard, didn't return a message.

Another reason the Broncos let Henry go is they feel good about their running backs. Selvin Young is working as the starter, but Pittman, Hall and rookie fifth-round pick Ryan Torain also will have a chance to earn playing time.

Henry will go down as one of the bigger freeagent disappointments in Broncos history. Although Henry's lackluster offseason was a reason for his release, Shanahan said he took Henry's entire controversial Broncos career into account when he made the move.

"When you talk about making decisions, it's not based on one week or two weeks," Shanahan said. "It's based on the time he's been here."

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