[Travis Haters]

I'm not a Travis Henry hater, I just feel that he's not the brightest guy on the team, his agent is an idiot & he signed a contract that he is obligated to honor, whether he likes it or not.  Here's my response to a guy who probably has never seen Henry play and has no idea of any of his off the field troubles. 

 

The antidote to the SI Story:

 

Henry Should Keep Quiet and Let The Bills Deal Him On Their Own Terms

 

Travis Henry feels the Buffalo Bills have been dragging their feet in trading him to the Arizona Cardinals and he's mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.  My question to Travis Henry is: "Who appointed you GM of the Buffalo Bills, or even the Arizona Cardinals?"  These two teams are negotiating a trade that would involve Henry and Arizona tackle L.J. Shelton.  Both players have lost starting jobs and want a change of scenery.  While we who follow the Buffalo Bills are getting used to hearing Travis Henry's almost daily rant about how he'll never again don a Bills uniform, we don't hear much from Shelton, maybe because he understands that getting traded today or the day of the draft has very little effect on the upcomming season.

 

The national media (nationals) has leaned towards Henry's side, not comprehending how the Bills could treat this loyal player.  We here in Bills Country know a little bit more about Travis Henry.  I'll call it the Henry that the national Jack of All Trades, Masters of None reporters see versus the Buffalo side of Henry. 

 

The nationals start with the fact that the Bills took a gamble on Willis McGahee in the 2003 draft, after Travis Henry had rushed for 1,438 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2002 adding another touchdown catch for a total of 14 tds.  They say Henry took it like a man, came back to rush for 1,356 in 2003 and even played with a broken leg, when he could have sat out the last few games in a meaningless December.  They continue on the "good soldier" bit by citing Henry's lack of complaining after he lost his job to Willis McGahee early into the 2004 season.

 

We in Bills Country, who follow the team a lot closer than the nationals, have seen the many sides of Travis Henry, and he doesn't shine as brightly as portrayed by his latest supporter in SI.  We recall the Travis Henry who has exhibited poor judgement throughout his 4 years in the NFL.  Heck, if he had always exhibited sound judgement, he wouldn't even find himself in the fix he currently perceives himself to be in.  We remember that Travis Henry signed a 4 year contract after being selected by the Bills in round 2 of the 2001 NFL draft.  If you do the math, that would make Travis Henry a free agent after the 2004 season.  Unfortunately, Henry squandered his money and was flat broke after the 2002 season and agreed to extend his contract an extra year in order to get much needed cash in his pocket. 

 

Lets go back to the Travis Henry that the Bills had on the day of the 2003 draft when they drafted Willis McGahee.  In his rookie year (2001) Henry was handed the starting job before he ever played a down in the NFL.  The Bills cut former 1st round pick Antowain Smith to make room for Henry.  I don't recall Henry shedding any tears for Smith when he was cut to open the door for Henry.  Henry responded on the field by rushing for 739 yards in the 1st 13 games of the season.  He injured his knee and missed the last 3 games.  At some point in the season, Henry threw up the 1st red flag that he wasn't a Boy Scout.  He was arrested for having sex with an underaged girl who he met at a gas station.  Although he served no time, he was placed on probation and therefore was one crime away from being lost to the team.  Henry came back his sophomore year with a good season, if you excuse his double digit fumbling in 2002.  Then after the 2002 season, Henry came to the Bills asking for money because he had spent all his 2001 & 2002 earnings.  In spite of the legal troubles in 2001 and the fumbling in 2002, the Bills extended Henry's contract an extra year and bailed him out financially.  So when the 2003 draft comes around, Henry has shown poor judgement (that's putting it mildly) off the field and was a fumbler on the field.  So the Bills take Willis McGahee in the draft and Henry immediately cries that he's been "slapped in the face", even though it is obvious to most observers that Henry's starting job, at least for 2003, is in no danger. 

 

Now it's the 2003 season. The season starts and Henry is in a funk even though he's the starter and Willis McGahee is on the PUP list.  He starts the season's 1st 6 games rushing for a paltry 260 yards (2.71 yds per carry) in 5 games, missing game 4 with a rib injury.  He comes back and after fracturing a bone in his leg gains credit for being a warrior by not going to the sidelines.  He finishes the season with 1,356 yards rushing in spite of the leg fracture, earning praise from just about every Bills fan. 

 

Then 2004 arrives.  Even though Henry is the starter, his agent is already grumbling about the Bills treatment of him and promises to "f*** the Bills over" in a photo documented drunken rage while downing shots out of a bowling ball in the parking lot of Ralph Wilson Stadium (The documentation and photos were on a Bills Fan web site that is not this one).  After the Bills go 0-4 Henry is injured and Willis McGahee gets his first start as the Bills win their 1st game of the season.  Still, Henry is named the starter the following week in Baltimore.  After the Bills lose, to go to 1-5, McGahee replaces Henry as the starter.  Henry then gets hurt in the season's 11th game and never gets on the field again in 2004.  Rumors are that Henry is not going out of his way to hasten his return, since he is no longer the starter.

 

As soon as the 2004 season ends, the "good soldier" turns into "the mouth".  He and his agent are given permission to seek a trade, but the minute there is a delay, both Henry and his agent are running their mouths off to the nationals, playing the poor hurt soldier.

 

I have a recommendation to Henry and his agent.  JUST SHUT UP.  The Bills are trying to trade Henry and will likely get it done before the draft.  Henry is threatening to sit out if not traded.  Well, unless Henry has suddenly turned around his financial act since 2003, he probably can't afford to sit out.  How many average fans could afford to threaten to sit out rather than get paid a million and a quarter million dollars?  Henry and his agent have both shown poor judgement in their 4 years in Buffalo.  It's time for Henry and agent to let Tom Donahoe do the GM's work and wait until the trade is completed.

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Harvey, Bravo!!!!!!!!!

Although you left out some of the other things that make TH a bad football player, your overview was nothing short of splendid!

I wish that TD would simply pull the trigger and oust this useless miscreant.

[dr. z on quality of this year's draft]

It's a little frustrating from the fan perspective in that Buffalo is listed in only about half the mock drafts out there.  It's much harder to get one's off=season football fix because overall there is less news, but in terms of the team, it is a great year not to have a first round pick.

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This is a foregone conclusion. Who needs a draft pick after what JP has proven in 04? We will glide through the playoffs and march right into the superbowl. Why? Because of JP!

As a matter of fact, I am yawning, and will continue to do so until perhaps the day before the superbowl in 06.

[Travis Haters]

Exactly.  Especially considering if TD is patient he can probably get Shelton for free after Arizona cuts him.  That's the scenario I'd really like to see.  TD trades Henry for a pick, and gets Shelton anyway.  Screw Arizona and all these sports writers expecting the Bills to just roll over and GIVE TH to Zona.

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Now, reverse the situation and this is what we will get for Travis.

Nothing.

[dr. z on quality of this year's draft]

Actually, would Losman be the #1 overall pick this year?  I saw somewhere on the board that he would be graded higher than either of the top 2 QB's, and one of them will probably go #1 overall to SF.  So, if Losman were still available, he might have been the #1 overall pick this year!

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Other than in 04, Losman would be the top pick in any draft in the history of the NFL.

[Who would you cut on our OL?]

MY EYES! MY EYES! 

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If Mike Williams does not perform to an extremely high level for a RT, I am thinking that he will be cut after 6/1/06.

[Scouts Inc. draft grades]

Thanks for, as usual, not responding to the point and putting words in people's mouths. Where have I ever even said that JP was good let alone great? In fact, all I said was that he would likely run around a lot, get  lot of first downs and few points, not score a lot in the red zone, and throw ill advised interceptions. If you take this to mean I think he should be in the Hall of Fame, which one of us is comical?

 

There have been many articles stating Green bay really wanted JP and are now stuck. The recent article about Losman from the other coaches in the league lauding his abilities is something you just don't see much. I havent said my own opinion of him as our QB with any laudatory comments whatsoever, and won't until he plays. I hope he does great.

 

Frankly, there is absolutely nothing to make me believe that if other teams offered their number one to TD for Losman right now that he would take it. Which is the reason he made the move. He got the extra year working on the sidelines while Drew played, and there wasn't anyone coming up that he liked more. Which leads me back to my original post.

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Maybe he got confused and was thinking of your comments about good Travis Henry is, and how much he is "worth."

[The Truth Hurts]

Who are you?

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The guy who thinks that blocking isn't so important, and that Travis Henry is a great back?

Ring a bell?

[The Truth Hurts]

What if he ends up with 80,000 yards?

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He would suck. If he takes Dallas to the superbowl, he still sucks. How dare you ask a question like that?

[Travis Haters]

All good "bro" but just to put my definition of great in context -- I simply mean that he was a top 10 running back for the Bills for two years.  I didn't say that he earned a ticket to Canton.  But in the two years he was a full-time starter, he was a huge component of the team's success and played "great" for them. 

 

Do I think he is a "great" player in the likes of a perennial Pro Bowl star?  Not really.

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What success? The team had little to no success during the two years about which you speak. During this period, Travis DID compile lots of yards rushing. He also gave away the football to our opponents time and again, and cost us wins.

Additionally, he did nothing else well. A case could also be made that his yards were a result of teams blitzing the statuesque Drew who played behind an OL with inferior pass blocking skills. Defenders in essence were running past him in an effort to get to Drew. Even at that, he lacked breakaway speed.

The good news is that he will soon be traded or cut.

 

PS: I am sorry if the term "Bro" offended you.

[Travis Haters]

This article is accurate.  Contrary to the popular belief on this board, Henry wasn't a locker room cancer when he was benched.

 

He was a great player for the Bills and hopefully will have the opportunity to land on his feet elsewhere.  Willis Mcgahee is simply beter, but that doesn't make swipes at TH justified.  If the Bills can treat Drew Bledsoe with so much class, why can't they do the same for Travis?

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writ...ha.henry/1.html

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Bro, I am not saying this to offend you, but calling Travis Henry a "great player" serves to take away the credibility of whatever point you are trying to make.

Sorry.

[DeMarcus Ware]

If Dallas doesn't take him, I could see one of the 3-4 teams (remember, Miami and Cleveland are switching to a 3-4 defense this year too) taking him.  Pittsburgh has kept their LB corps stocked over the years by drafting undersized DEs and moving them to OLB.

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This is why guys like you, Badoldilz, Jokeman and others are experts. Yes, I am going to use that word.

 

Imo, Ware looks like a potential superstar. A guy at that size who can run a 4.6 might not need to play in a 3-4, although he does appear to be suited for it. He seems to have the long arms of Bryce Paup, to compliment his blazing speed. Of course, I dont know if he will ever be as strong as Bryce.

 

Looking at the Bills, I see no dire need for a DE. I rate Denny higher than most, especially as a situational player; and, and I am high on both Schobel and Kelsay. That said, I would be doing cartwheels if the Bills could get a guy with this much talent.

 

Btw, I mention Bryce in this posting because of how much better he made the Bills defense before he hurt his groin. Imagine if they had a rusher like him on this football team! Bryce not only had a ton of sacks, but his hits were particularly punishing. He also blocked passes with his long arms.

 

If this kid is as good as I am thinking, teams would be hard pressed to score on the Buffalo Bills.

Is there ANY chance?

[Bills' Offseason Plans]

I think the Bills will use at least 2 of the picks in this year's draft to address depth/talent issues on the offensive line.  I can also see us looking to acquire depth in the secondary and maybe a defensive lineman as well.  Also, I can see us looking at another TE after the June cap cuts.  Thoughts?

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I am not exactly sure what you mean by "depth" in the secondary. With the very real possibility of losing Clements in 06 and MaGee returning kicks, I am thinking that we need an immediate impact player.

You know me. I have been screaming OL on this board for 7 or so years. I just think that TD will continue the Bills tradition of neglecting the OL and draft a corner with the first selection.

[Feeling better about Henry situation]

Quick: Name every back in NFL history who in two consecutive seasons rushed for 2800 yards and scored 25 TDs and caught 70 passes who completely stinks. There must be dozens.

 

Oh, and while Henry was "losing" all those games for the Bills did he actually "win" the games he scored overtime TDs in, or three touchdowns, or late scores? Or were those team wins but he personally lost the others by, say, tripping on one play?

 

Okay, 2794 yards.

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I am sure the number of backs is greater than the number of qbs who threw for 40,000 yards by the age of 33. Do you want Drew back?

 

OK, 39,000 yards plus.

[Feeling better about Henry situation]

Shelton signed for 21 million three years ago (which is likely the equivalent of 25-27 million now) and was a first round pick and solid starter at one of the toughest positions in sports and we're not taking him straight up. There is an offer.

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Right, ONE OFFER. Now, let's re-introduce your points of contention:

1) Shelton is out of favor with the coach.

2) His fellow lineman, Davis, was the #2 pick of the draft and making a HUGE salary.

3) He will probably be cut if there is no deal.

 

Due to several factors, Shelton has little value to his team.

This is our lone offer for TH.

Let's see how TH does this season on another team. Frankly, I cant wait to see him lose games for someone else.

[Is it time TD took Shelton for TH straight up?]

Oh, I know. I was just harrassing Bill for his pretzel logic over Travis.  He continues to say that no team will trade a 5th or 4th or 3rd let alone a 2nd round pick for Travis because he is the worst player ever to put on a uniform. And not only an NFL uniform, but I believe if I am reading correctly, a Pop Warner uniform, a cheerleader uniform and perhaps even the worst football player ever to put on an Arby's Roast Beef uniform.

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Yeah Kell, but you are the other extreme.

All he does is lose. The flaws in his game and personality are evident, yet you prop him up as a superstar, and then try to justify the lack of interest around the league.

I concede that many factors determine trade value. Circumstances can make it tough to get much for a very good player like James, let alone a bad one such as your superstar, Travis henry.

[Feeling better about Henry situation]

The Bills got a first round pick for Peerless, was he THAT good? Better than Faulk? Better than Farve?

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Atlanta needed a receiver and overpaid.

Where are our offers for Henry?

[Is it time TD took Shelton for TH straight up?]

So you're saying you can often not use what a player may or may not be offered from other teams as true value of how good they are or what they are worth?

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I am saying that you vastly over rate the value of Travis Henry.

He is under contract at a cheap price tag, and yes; this does increase trade value.

If he was even almost as good as described by you, teams would be making us generous offers. The best one we have so far is a lineman from a team that plans to cut him.

[Feeling better about Henry situation]

>>>I think he was trying to say one cannot just look at the players ability for what another team will be willing to give up. The Skins gave up a stud DB and a second rounder for Portis last year, plus a huge restructuring of his contract.<<<

 

Very good point. Have you noticed that the Bills are NOT getting offers such as this for Henry?

He just isn't that good.

[Is it time TD took Shelton for TH straight up?]

So you think Alexander is bordering on being great and yet no one will trade a second rounder for him? So he must not be worth a second rounder, right? I have heard that refrain from you before.

 

Or, perhaps, there are a myriad of extenuating circumstances in why or why not a player may be traded (or not traded) for a certain round of draft pick that has little to do with his "worth".

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Of course things such as salary matter. If this was not the case the dolphins would certainly grab Alexander and a qb from the Chargers, right?

[2005's surprise cut of the year will be...]

I don't think the bills have any rights over him in 2006, unless they put the

Franchise Tag

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Yeah, but he asked about 05, no?

[2005's surprise cut of the year will be...]

Travis Henry, if no deal is completed.

[Is it time TD took Shelton for TH straight up?]

$$$$  Plain and simple. Alexander is seeking a huge, long term contract with a large bonus. If the Cards feel they need to Draft their QB of the future, then you're talking 5 Mil a year minimum with a 10 Mil + signing bonus. That's probably the ballpark Alexander is asking for also. Same with E. James of the Colts.

 

The Cards have multiple needs and can't just dump their entire future cap on 2 skill positions, QB and RB.  This makes Henry a more attractive option, at present.

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I agree 100% Mark.

The thing is, I consider Alexander to border on being great. Travis? Well.....

If this trade is completed, it is going to be fun watching Ariz. having found yet another way to lose.

[Feeling better about Henry situation]

James and Alexander are likely not even going to find takers for second round picks, does that mean, with your logic, that they are worth third round or even fourth round picks? Of course not. You cannot look at trades like that over the course of several years. A lot has to do with contract, age, other backs available, what the team is looking to draft, where else they may need to spend money, etc.

 

The ONLY reason that Faulk went for what he was traded for was because Polian's Colts had a top draft pick and they knew without question they were going to draft Rickey Williams or Edgerrin James. And felt, wrongly, that they had gotten maximum use out Faulk already and didnt want to give him a huge contract. That is why he was traded for the pick he was traded for. Not because he is or isn't worth only a second rounder.

The point I said, that remains, is that if you were going to draft a guy in the second round and you got the production that henry got, you would be thrilled with that second round pick. Most Bills fans were thrilled with Henry as a second round pick until this year and Willis was ready.

 

And Travis Henry was not losing games for the Bills, it is not only a team game but he was one of the very few players not only producing but trying his ass off.

 

 

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Just a touch of "homer" mentality in this and your initial post? Nothing at all wrong with this mind you, but it does not lend itself to factual discussion.

 

When discussing the Faulk trade, you only mention how Polian felt, and why he was willing to take a 2nd and a 5th. Tell me, why did no other team outbid the rams? I think it is because history tells us that, with a few exceptions, RBs tend to have not so high trade value. Dillon, James, and Alexander seem to prove this.

 

As for "most Bills fans being thrilled with Travis," what would you expect? They were also thrilled with Ostroski, Fina and others when it was time to dump them. Bills fans are loyal, except when it comes to qbs., especially Bledsoe.

 

As for Travis not losing games, it is hard for me to believe that you are serious. Did you see him sliding on the turf, untouched, on crucial plays this season? Did you see the missed blocks and wrong routes? Do you remember the 1st game Drew played vs. the jests when Travis gave away the football? Please, look at the records of Drew and Travis as starters on the Bills and see who has a better winning percentage. I ask you to also consider that if TH is or was THAT good, why did TD use a 1st round pick on a rb, for no reason? He could have taken Steinbeck and had an immediate impact LG.

 

In summary, the fact that you are a Travis fan and think that he is worth a 2nd round pick is truly OK. The truth however remains that nobody will give us one.

Agreed?

[What do YOU expect out of Losman...?]

5-11 this season.  Hope I am wrong.

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And with the talent this team does have, that would be a real sin.

[What do YOU expect out of Losman...?]

Am I the only one who thinks Holcomb starts the season??

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Probably. Most have JP pegged as a superstar.

The thing is, we lost spots in the first round and gave away a 2nd and a 5th for this kid. I think that if he shows anything whatsoever, MM will hand him the job.