Travis Henry
Encyclopedia
Travis Deion Henry is a former American football
running back
for the Buffalo Bills
, Tennessee Titans
and Denver Broncos
. He was drafted by the Bills in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at the University of Tennessee
.
A Pro Bowl
selection with the Bills in 2002
, Henry has also played for the Tennessee Titans
and Denver Broncos
.
All-American and "Mr. Florida Football" as a running back at Frostproof High School. As a senior, he rushed for 4,087 yards and 42 touchdown
s in 14 games. His team was state runner-up that year. Henry also played basketball
and ran track
.
from 1997 to 2000. In his sophomore season, Travis was a member of the 1998 national championship team
. He shared the backfield with fellow NFL running back Jamal Lewis
his junior season and collected 916 yards and eight touchdowns. After his senior season, in which he rushed for 1,314 yards and 11 touchdowns, he was named first-team All-SEC
by the Associated Press
and the Sporting News.
He holds the school records for yards rushing (3,078), rushing attempts (556), and 100-yard performances (14). He was nicknamed "Cheese" by his strength & conditioning coach for being as tough and strong as a block of government cheese
.
by the Buffalo Bills
.
(* represents NFL Combine
)
nod in 2002
after he collected 1,438 yards and 13 touchdowns.
In 2004, Henry was injured for part of the year and lost his starting
job to the Bills' 2003
first round pick, Willis McGahee
. Henry refused to accept becoming McGahee's backup and demanded a trade. Buffalo conceded to his demand and traded him to the Tennessee Titans
. Ironically, Henry had then become the backup to Chris Brown.
for a third round draft
pick in 2006
. Henry was suspended four games during the 2005 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
After playing backup to Chris Brown
for his first season with the Titans, Henry had secured the role of starter, and, in 2006
, achieved his first 1,000 yard season since 2003. On December 3, 2006, Henry became the 100th running back in NFL history to rush for over 5,000 career yards.
On December 24, 2006, Travis Henry broke the 1,000 yard mark for the 2006 NFL season against his former team, the Buffalo Bills. Henry played a significant role in the Titans' win as he rushed for 135 yards total. This put Henry at 1,103 rushing yards for the season, with 1 game still remaining, despite being inactive for 2 games. He finished the 2006 NFL season with 1,211 yards rushing at 4.5 yards per carry. He got into the end zone
7 times while only fumbling
three times. He also caught 22 passes for 179 yards, at an average of 8.1 yards per reception, giving him 1,282 all-purpose yards. Nevertheless, the Titans released him, which was seen as a cost cutting move.
on March 5.
Henry led the NFL in rushing after the first four games of the 2007 season before injuries would keep him in and out of the lineup throughout the remainder of the season.
According to an article written by MyFOX Colorado, it was reported that Travis Henry faced the possibility of being suspended for the remainder of the 2007 season for a positive marijuana test. At the time of the incident, both the Denver Broncos and the NFL refused to comment on the situation. Henry appealed the suspension and his case was taken to Federal courts, allowing him to play until a decision was made.
Following the breaking news of Henry's reported positive failure, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan
publicly supported Henry. This led to Shanahan being fined $
25,000 by the NFL.
Henry won his appeal on December 4, 2007. Henry remained in the substance abuse program, but was not suspended. Henry stated the positive test result was due to second hand smoke. It must be noted that Henry is reported as passing a lie detector test, as well as a hair follicle test regarding whether or not he smoked marijuana.
On February 21, 2008, Henry restructured his contract with the Broncos prior to his scheduled $6 million bonus to stay with the team. Henry had previously stated, "I want to make it right to the Broncos, the fans and myself," he said. "I want to be a Bronco and make it all right. I don't want to be anywhere else. I owe those people something for all that happened last year. I want to clear my name there. I'm so hungry to do right there."
On June 2, 2008, Henry was released from the Denver Broncos just one year into his five year $22.5 million deal. "We did not feel his commitment to the Broncos was enough to warrant a spot on this football team," said head coach Mike Shanahan in a prepared statement. “He’s just too inconsistent as a person. I’m not going to get into details what he did do or didn’t do. If you don’t do the little things, obviously you can’t count on somebody. So that’s why he’s released.” Henry at the time was reported to be out of the country and had not yet participated in any Broncos off-season workouts.
On July 12, 2008, it was revealed that Henry had once again tested positive for marijuana and will be suspended for one year. The failed test was reportedly dated in May 2008, showing that he used marijuana only 5 months after winning his appeal. The Broncos stated that the team was not aware of Henry's test results at the time he was released.
. He is currently engaged. Henry has fathered at least eleven children by ten different women.
Henry has had on-going problems making his child support
payments to the mothers of nine of his children. He was arrested in Polk County, Florida
in March 2009 and charged with failing to pay $16,600 in child support. His lawyer estimates that he is obligated to pay at least $170,000 per year in child support
payments.
after allegedly being involved in a multi-kilogram cocaine transaction that occurred in Centennial, Colorado
. Henry, portrayed by court documents "as the ruthless 'money guy' in a cocaine trafficking ring", faces 10 years to life on federal drug trafficking charges. On March 31, 2009, Henry and prosecutors reached a plea agreement; however the filing does not state the charges that Henry intended to admit. A change-of-plea hearing was scheduled for April 16 by the judge.
The plea deal consisted of Henry accepting a charge of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. Aside from serving ten years to life in prison, Henry will have to pay $4 million in fines.
On July 15, 2009, Henry was sentenced to three years in federal prison for financing a cocaine trafficking operation.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
and Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was drafted by the Bills in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
.
A Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection with the Bills in 2002
2003 Pro Bowl
The 2003 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 2, 2003 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final Score was AFC 45, NFC 20. Ricky Williams of the Miami Dolphins was the game's MVP.-Offense:-Defense:-Special teams:-Offense:-Defense:...
, Henry has also played for the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
and Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Henry was a ParadeParade (magazine)
Parade is an American nationwide Sunday newspaper magazine, distributed in more than 500 newspapers in the United States. It was founded in 1941 and is owned by Advance Publications. The most widely read magazine in the U.S., Parade has a circulation of 32.2 million and a readership of nearly 70...
All-American and "Mr. Florida Football" as a running back at Frostproof High School. As a senior, he rushed for 4,087 yards and 42 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s in 14 games. His team was state runner-up that year. Henry also played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and ran track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
.
College career
Travis attended the University of TennesseeUniversity of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
from 1997 to 2000. In his sophomore season, Travis was a member of the 1998 national championship team
1998 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 1998 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. Tennessee entered the 1998 season coming off an 11–2 record in 1997...
. He shared the backfield with fellow NFL running back Jamal Lewis
Jamal Lewis
Jamal Lafitte Lewis is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens fifth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
his junior season and collected 916 yards and eight touchdowns. After his senior season, in which he rushed for 1,314 yards and 11 touchdowns, he was named first-team All-SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and the Sporting News.
He holds the school records for yards rushing (3,078), rushing attempts (556), and 100-yard performances (14). He was nicknamed "Cheese" by his strength & conditioning coach for being as tough and strong as a block of government cheese
Government cheese
Government cheese is processed cheese that was provided to welfare and food stamp recipients in the United States from the 1960s through to the early 1990s...
.
2001 NFL Draft
Henry was drafted in the second round (58th overall) in the 2001 NFL Draft2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
by the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
| Pre-draft measureables | ||||||
| Wt | 40y 40 yard dash The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football... |
20ss 20 yard shuttle The 20-yard shuttle, also simply called the short shuttle, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the quickness and change-of-direction ability of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
3-cone 3 cone drill The 3 cone drill, or three cone drill, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
Vert Vertical jump A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill.-Types of vertical jump:The vertical jump is... |
BP Bench press The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight... |
Wonderlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 223 lb* | 4.61s* | X | X | 35.5 in* | 23* | 7 |
NFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
)
Buffalo Bills
As a Bill, Henry became the fourth-leading rusher in Bills history, with 3,849 yards and 27 touchdowns with a 4.0 yards per carry average. He earned a Pro BowlPro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
nod in 2002
2002 Pro Bowl
The 2002 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 9, 2002 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final score was AFC 38, NFC 30. Rich Gannon of the Oakland Raiders was the game's MVP.-Offense:-Defense:-Special teams:-Offense:-Defense:...
after he collected 1,438 yards and 13 touchdowns.
In 2004, Henry was injured for part of the year and lost his starting
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
job to the Bills' 2003
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
first round pick, Willis McGahee
Willis McGahee
Willis Andrew McGahee III is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
. Henry refused to accept becoming McGahee's backup and demanded a trade. Buffalo conceded to his demand and traded him to the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. Ironically, Henry had then become the backup to Chris Brown.
Tennessee Titans
In July 2005 Henry was dealt to the Tennessee TitansTennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
for a third round draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
pick in 2006
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. Henry was suspended four games during the 2005 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
After playing backup to Chris Brown
Chris Brown (American football)
Christopher Rejean Brown is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
for his first season with the Titans, Henry had secured the role of starter, and, in 2006
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
, achieved his first 1,000 yard season since 2003. On December 3, 2006, Henry became the 100th running back in NFL history to rush for over 5,000 career yards.
On December 24, 2006, Travis Henry broke the 1,000 yard mark for the 2006 NFL season against his former team, the Buffalo Bills. Henry played a significant role in the Titans' win as he rushed for 135 yards total. This put Henry at 1,103 rushing yards for the season, with 1 game still remaining, despite being inactive for 2 games. He finished the 2006 NFL season with 1,211 yards rushing at 4.5 yards per carry. He got into the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
7 times while only fumbling
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
three times. He also caught 22 passes for 179 yards, at an average of 8.1 yards per reception, giving him 1,282 all-purpose yards. Nevertheless, the Titans released him, which was seen as a cost cutting move.
Denver Broncos
On March 3, 2007, Henry was released by the Titans. He signed with the Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on March 5.
Henry led the NFL in rushing after the first four games of the 2007 season before injuries would keep him in and out of the lineup throughout the remainder of the season.
According to an article written by MyFOX Colorado, it was reported that Travis Henry faced the possibility of being suspended for the remainder of the 2007 season for a positive marijuana test. At the time of the incident, both the Denver Broncos and the NFL refused to comment on the situation. Henry appealed the suspension and his case was taken to Federal courts, allowing him to play until a decision was made.
Following the breaking news of Henry's reported positive failure, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan
Mike Shanahan
Michael Edward "Mike" Shanahan is the 28th and current head coach of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. Shanahan also holds the title of Vice President of Football Operations with the Redskins, giving him full control over player personnel with the team. Shanahan previously...
publicly supported Henry. This led to Shanahan being fined $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
25,000 by the NFL.
Henry won his appeal on December 4, 2007. Henry remained in the substance abuse program, but was not suspended. Henry stated the positive test result was due to second hand smoke. It must be noted that Henry is reported as passing a lie detector test, as well as a hair follicle test regarding whether or not he smoked marijuana.
On February 21, 2008, Henry restructured his contract with the Broncos prior to his scheduled $6 million bonus to stay with the team. Henry had previously stated, "I want to make it right to the Broncos, the fans and myself," he said. "I want to be a Bronco and make it all right. I don't want to be anywhere else. I owe those people something for all that happened last year. I want to clear my name there. I'm so hungry to do right there."
On June 2, 2008, Henry was released from the Denver Broncos just one year into his five year $22.5 million deal. "We did not feel his commitment to the Broncos was enough to warrant a spot on this football team," said head coach Mike Shanahan in a prepared statement. “He’s just too inconsistent as a person. I’m not going to get into details what he did do or didn’t do. If you don’t do the little things, obviously you can’t count on somebody. So that’s why he’s released.” Henry at the time was reported to be out of the country and had not yet participated in any Broncos off-season workouts.
On July 12, 2008, it was revealed that Henry had once again tested positive for marijuana and will be suspended for one year. The failed test was reportedly dated in May 2008, showing that he used marijuana only 5 months after winning his appeal. The Broncos stated that the team was not aware of Henry's test results at the time he was released.
Suspension
August 31, 2008, Travis Henry was suspended for at least one year by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy.Family
Travis was married once, at age 19, to a woman six years his senior; the marriage was later annulledAnnulment
Annulment is a legal procedure for declaring a marriage null and void. Unlike divorce, it is usually retroactive, meaning that an annulled marriage is considered to be invalid from the beginning almost as if it had never taken place...
. He is currently engaged. Henry has fathered at least eleven children by ten different women.
Henry has had on-going problems making his child support
Child support
In family law and public policy, child support is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child following the end of a marriage or other relationship...
payments to the mothers of nine of his children. He was arrested in Polk County, Florida
Polk County, Florida
Polk County is located in central Florida between the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando metropolitan areas. The county was established by the state government in 1861 on the eve of the American Civil War and named after former United States president James K. Polk. The county seat is Bartow and its...
in March 2009 and charged with failing to pay $16,600 in child support. His lawyer estimates that he is obligated to pay at least $170,000 per year in child support
Child support
In family law and public policy, child support is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child following the end of a marriage or other relationship...
payments.
Drug trafficking arrest
On September 30, 2008, Henry was arrested by the DEADrug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
after allegedly being involved in a multi-kilogram cocaine transaction that occurred in Centennial, Colorado
Centennial, Colorado
The city of Centennial is a Home Rule City located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States, and part of the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area. The city was to have a total population of 100,377 in 2010 census. Centennial is the tenth-most populous municipality in the state of Colorado and its...
. Henry, portrayed by court documents "as the ruthless 'money guy' in a cocaine trafficking ring", faces 10 years to life on federal drug trafficking charges. On March 31, 2009, Henry and prosecutors reached a plea agreement; however the filing does not state the charges that Henry intended to admit. A change-of-plea hearing was scheduled for April 16 by the judge.
The plea deal consisted of Henry accepting a charge of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. Aside from serving ten years to life in prison, Henry will have to pay $4 million in fines.
On July 15, 2009, Henry was sentenced to three years in federal prison for financing a cocaine trafficking operation.