Drew Henson: I don't like that he played baseball

[albionmoonlight]

For no rational reason whatsoever, if I had an NFL team and needed a QB, I would not want Drew Henson. Why, do you ask? I don't like that he gave up football to try and play baseball.

You could argue that age has something to do with it. But it does not, really. He's only 24 years old. Barring injury, he has at least 6 good years left in the tank. Probably more. Anyway, he probably won't finish his career with the team that takes him anyway.

So it's not age. It is an irrational part of me that says: you gave up on football to play baseball. Then when that didn't work out, you come back to football and expect to pick up right where you left off. Well it does not work out that way. Part of me expects him to turn tail and run and become an insurance agent as soon as he gets sacked the first time.

My thinking is irrational. If coming out of college, I had the chance to go to Med School or become an accountant, and I decided to go to Med School and did poorly and ended up going back into accounting by my 24th birthday, I would hope that people did not hold it against me.

But, for some reason, I hold it against him. Does anyone else feel this way, or is it just me?

[rkmsuf]

I do and I can't stand all the hub-bub surrounding this guy. I don't see how a team can be willing to give up a lot after watching someone throw 75 passes in a bubble. The best quote I heard was from one of the GMs there who said something like "There are a lot of guys that can throw the ball that are bartenders right now..."

[cthomer5000]

Well, the one thing it factually shows is that in a perfect world, he'd be a major league 3rd baseman - not an NFL QB.

Maybe he has an incredible passion for both sports, but at the very least you know he geunuinely preferred baseball to football.

Conversely, he walked away from 12 million dollars in order to go play football - so you can argue that he cleary has a passion for the game if he was willing to do that. It's easy to see both sides of the argument on this one.

And no, i don't really hold it against him in any way. I'm sure at some point in our lives all of us have had a great passion for a job, hobby, game, that we just weren't all that great at. I think Henson realized he just wasn't good enough to make it as a baseball player, even if that was his boyhood fantasy. I have to give credit to anyone who walks away from 12 million in guaranteed money to give something they may be better suited to a chance.

[Travis]

Not sure how you can hold it against the guy when he knew that if he went the football route that he'd be pretty much assured being picked in the first round, and everything that goes with it because of his talent level, left that on the table to pursue what he said was his bigger passion for baseball (which ultimately failed because his skill set just wasn't good enough, ring any bells Micheal Jordan?), so instead of soaking up millions of dollars playing in the minors (after having given it a fairly legitimate shot), he's going to return to a sport where he pretty much knows he'll have a shot at playing with the big boys, and the chance to prove himself at a national level instead of toiling in obscurity.

I mean hey, I for one won't be surprised to see him return to baseball if his NFL attempt doesn't work, and play in the minors for the rest of his career, but why pass up a chance like this?

[rkmsuf]

Not sure how you can hold it against the guy when he knew that if he went the football route that he'd be pretty much assured being picked in the first round, and everything that goes with it because of his talent level, left that on the table to pursue what he said was his bigger passion for baseball (which ultimately failed because his skill set just wasn't good enough, ring any bells Micheal Jordan?), so instead of soaking up millions of dollars playing in the minors (after having given it a fairly legitimate shot), he's going to return to a sport where he pretty much knows he'll have a shot at playing with the big boys, and the chance to prove himself at a national level instead of toiling in obscurity.

I mean hey, I for one won't be surprised to see him return to baseball if his NFL attempt doesn't work, and play in the minors for the rest of his career, but why pass up a chance like this?

Perhaps he is just a moron...

[Buddy Grant]

I was pissed at my old girlfriend for marrying a doctor, but as you say albion, it's an irrational feeling. I don't think there is anything wrong with it though, I disliked Danny Ainge when he was playing MLB for similar irrational reasons.

[Bubba Wheels]

Henson got a boatload of guaranteed money for being a Yankee minor leaguer. Guess the loss of fame and glory in the bargain was too much for him to do without.

[rkmsuf]

Henson got a boatload of guaranteed money for being a Yankee minor leaguer. Guess the loss of fame and glory in the bargain was too much for him to do without.

Not to mention the fact that the Yankees wanted no part of him anymore or that he sucked at baseball...

[Kodos]

I was pissed at my old girlfriend for marrying a doctor, but as you say albion, it's an irrational feeling. I don't think there is anything wrong with it though, I disliked Danny Ainge when he was playing MLB for similar irrational reasons.

Danny Ainge played Middle Linebacker?






;)

[Desnudo]

I would be more than happy to be Nuke La Louche for that amount of money. I would have requested demotion to the Yankees version of Durham, played out the contract for the full amount, and then retired to the Caribbean to open my own casino.

[GrantDawg]

Danny Ainge played Middle Linebacker?






;)
Now that would have been fun to watch.

[rkmsuf]

Drew don't know Diddly...

[zums]

Jordan walked away from basketball to go play baseball, i dont think anyone would dispute he had a great passion for basketball...he sucked at baseball and went back to basketball, kind of a parallel between the two although on different levels of succes. my point being nobody gave jordan shit for doing what he wanted why should we give henson shit for basically the same thing? the opportunity is there, take it...

-zums

[rkmsuf]

Jordan took plenty of heat. He did it out of boredom...

[cthomer5000]

Jordan took a LOT of heat. Mostly about the fact that he was likely stealing the job of some minor leaguer, and was only on the roster becasue he was Michael Jordan.

[zums]

yeah he took some heat but not the type of heat henson is taking..... henson's "passion" or "love of the game" is being taken into consideration, but like was mentioned earlier an athlete is an athlete, and they are very competitive at most things they do, including one or more sports. i just dont think it is fair to question his heart for playing one game over the other.

-zums

ps - as far as jordon, boredom aka the gambling conspiracy "suspension" might have had somethin to do with it as well. the difference is that henson was at the beginning of his career and could go ether direction, jordan had already won championships and was not a highly touted prospect

[rkmsuf]

Him forfeiting 12 million bucks says he loves football...that's fine. I question his overall talent level compared to the asking price and what the Texans are expected to get for him.

[zums]

yeah i agree. personally i dont like henson, never have. i just feel like he gets a bad rap as far as intangibles such as heart or desire. i'll make no promises on his talent or sucess, although i think it was a great move by houston to take him last year and set themselves up to gain from a fairly low risk.

-zums

[General Mike]

Henson didn't love baseball, he loved the idea of playing 3B for the New York Yankees and the money they gave him. He was not gonna give up football if the Yankees hadn't given him the $18M deal. No other team would have given him that contract.

[kcchief19]

Did you see the video of him working out? He's going to be even less successful in the NFL than he was in baseball. He took about a 13-step drop and when he threw a pass, he threw it like a third-basemen -- his knees were bent, his momentum was taking him forward and he threw around three-quarters. His passes would have hit most of his offensive linemen in the ass if he'd had a line out there. They showed quite a bit of his footage here since the Chiefs are interested, and I was not impressed.

[rkmsuf]

everyone is washing Casserley's balls for having the genius forsight to draft this guy. You know what...the Texans have zero leverage here.

If anyone gives them anything over a sixth round pick they should be force fed McRibs until they puke...

[cthomer5000]

If anyone gives them anything over a sixth round pick they should be force fed McRibs until they puke...
Why? If a team wanted him, they couldn't draft him in the 6th round...could they?

A team should give Houston whatever they think he is worth.

[rkmsuf]

Why? If a team wanted him, they couldn't draft him in the 6th round...could they?

A team should give Houston whatever they think he is worth.

Well if he went in the sixth round originally then what indication do you have that he's better now?

You can argue the baseball thing clouded the issue but if he's the goods no way you let him drop that far. I'll give you maybe a fourth but I think that's stretching it...

Casserly et all are going to blow as much smoke as possible here...I'd be disappointed if they didn't. I for one don't believe the hype...

[Kodos]

How could you not love the guy who brought us the Muppets?!?

[rkmsuf]

How could you not love the guy who brought us the Muppets?!?

Jim Hensen threw a much better ball...

[SackAttack]

everyone is washing Casserley's balls for having the genius forsight to draft this guy. You know what...the Texans have zero leverage here.

If anyone gives them anything over a sixth round pick they should be force fed McRibs until they puke...

Keep in mind that what the Texans are allowed to pay and what a team would pay if he went back into the draft might be two very, very different numbers, courtesy of the rookie pool allocation. Would you be willing to give up a little bit more in terms of draft picks if you knew that your cap hit for acquiring the player was likely to be substantially lower? He's been projected as a late first-round pick if he re-enters the draft. As it stands now, he was taken in the 7th round.

That's a bit of a difference in terms of a payday, don't you think?

[cthomer5000]

Well if he went in the sixth round originally then what indication do you have that he's better now?

You can argue the baseball thing clouded the issue but if he's the goods no way you let him drop that far. I'll give you maybe a fourth but I think that's stretching it...

Casserly et all are going to blow as much smoke as possible here...I'd be disappointed if they didn't. I for one don't believe the hype...
It's a free market. Imagine buying a stock for 10 dollars... why not sell that stock for 50 if you have the chance?

He obviously went in the 6th round because he had been repeatedly saying he would not quit baseball. Had he not played so terribly this past year, he'd probably still be playing baseball.

Now that it's known that he is playing football, his value is dramatically different.

[rkmsuf]

I think the notion he's a late first round pick in this draft is a gross miscalcuation. I don't see it...

I don't fault the Texans for selling high...I fault the buyers for buying the bullshit...

[lynchjm24]

[QUOTE=rkmsuf]everyone is washing Casserley's balls for having the genius forsight to draft this guy. You know what...the Texans have zero leverage here.

\[QUOTE]

You really are idiotic aren't you?

The Texans have leverage because there are going to be a number of teams interested in trading for him.

[kcchief19]

The Texans have plenty of leverage in that the only way for them to lose is to not make a trade. If they make a trade, regardless of how good or bad it is, they will certainly gain value -- they will have traded in a 6th round pick for something more. Know any other way to trade a 6th round pick for a first or a second?

I agree that the problem is with the buyers. I think anything more than a third-rounder is a silly risk. I don't think he looked good, and the guy really only had less than a season as a college QB and he was solid, people look back at his college career and make him out to be a Heisman candidate.

[rkmsuf]

[QUOTE=rkmsuf]everyone is washing Casserley's balls for having the genius forsight to draft this guy. You know what...the Texans have zero leverage here.

\[QUOTE]

You really are idiotic aren't you?

The Texans have leverage because there are going to be a number of teams interested in trading for him.

Great analysis...nevermind he's not even signed by the Texans and can go back into the draft.

Nevermind that teams may be perfectly content to draft him with a fourth round pick rather than give another team that pick.

You are a thinking man's analyst...now go get a new scrubbie for ole Charlie...

[Greyroofoo]

What's with the hype around Drew Henson anyways? He's only started about 8 games in college

[lynchjm24]

Great analysis...nevermind he's not even signed by the Texans and can go back into the draft.

Nevermind that teams may be perfectly content to draft him with a fourth round pick rather than give another team that pick.

You are a thinking man's analyst...now go get a new scrubbie for ole Charlie...

Sure, he can go back into the draft, but then he has no say where he ends up. In this scenario he gets to pick his spot.

[Young Drachma]

he gets to pick his spot, the Texans get something for nothing and the team who trades for him is guaranteed to get him. In the draft, who knows who would take him, when they'd take him and well..why leave it to that uncertainty?

That said, how many of us wouldn't take the money for a shot at playing for the Yankees. I hate them, but replace the Yankees with your favorite baseball team. If you thought you had game, people believed in you and whatever..why not? Especially if you always knew you had football to fall back on?

I mean, I don't begrudge him.

[lynchjm24]

[QUOTE=rkmsuf]

Nevermind that teams may be perfectly content to draft him with a fourth round pick rather than give another team that pick.

[QUOTE]

You are just caught up on what Houston spent on him. Doesn't matter anymore, he's worth whatever the free market bears, and anyone who wants him is going to have to pony up at this point. He wouldn't make it out of the first round if he ends up back in the draft.

[Lucky Jim]

1st round may be a stretch, I know that's the buzz, but whatever the scenario he will not be around in the 4th if he goes to the draft. Too much upside, especially for the interested teams that can more than afford to burn a 2nd or 3rd on him (GB, MIA, KC, Buff or Pitt even could arguably afford to give away a 2nd or 3rd on him either through trade or in the draft). He hasn't shown anything yet, and personally I like Rivers for that money a lot better than Henson, but somebody'll overpay for the guy.

[Anthony]

what's with this bullshit line that "if he doesn't re-enter the draft he'll get to pick his spot?"

he ain't picking anything - he's going to whichever team offers the highest pick for him. you mean to tell me if it comes down to the Chiefs offering Casserly a 4th round pick and the Packers offering Casserly a late 1st round pick but Henson prefers the warmer KC weather - Casserly is gonna take the 4th round pick.

no.

if i was a GM i'd honestly gamble, hope he re-enters the draft and grab him any time after the 3rd round. in fact i'd pow-wow with other GM's and let them know that while Casserly got all the glory for stealing Henson with a 6th roud pick - he's gonna look like a fool if he has to let Henson leave for the draft and he wasted a 6th round pick for nothing. you can't compare a guy who only stated 8 college games to Manning or Roethlisberger with more established credentials, don't know how you overpay for that with a 1st or 2nd round pick.

we also haven't seen the combine yet - there's always an unknown who makes a name for himself there, this isn't a 3 QB draft that everyone is making it out to be.

let's just call a spade a spade - Henson is a long-term project with tons of upside.

[Young Drachma]

if i was a GM i'd honestly gamble, hope he re-enters the draft and grab him any time after the 3rd round. in fact i'd pow-wow with other GM's and let them know that while Casserly got all the glory for stealing Henson with a 6th roud pick - he's gonna look like a fool if he has to let Henson leave for the draft and he wasted a 6th round pick for nothing. you can't compare a guy who only stated 8 college games to Manning or Roethlisberger with more established credentials, don't know how you overpay for that with a 1st or 2nd round pick.


Great call, the only issue here is..all the GMs would talk, agree and then some rouge guy would do the deal to spite them anyway. Not like the NFL trades enough for anybody to care anyway. I think its one of those deals where you don't want to be the one that missed out on someone who could've been "the one."

That said, when you look at all the relative no-names who are leading teams or have over the past two years, I don't think it matters really that he didn't play much in college. Of course, at least those guys were playing football. Do you think the team that picks him up will send him to NFL Europe? At least to get him some playing time? I'd say yeah.

[Anthony]

i agree. there's no way you let Henson ride the bench for 2 or 3 years after missing out on all that experience. he needs pro-calibre snaps...NFL Europe, if he's serious about his career, seems like a no-brainer. at least Vick went through a whole year and it's arguable that staying any longer in college would have jeopardized his pro career due to injury risk and having a bull-eye on his back. Henson is so far behind right now, natural talents notwithstanding, that wasting away as a 3rd stringer isn't going to do him much good.

[lynchjm24]

what's with this bullshit line that "if he doesn't re-enter the draft he'll get to pick his spot?"

he ain't picking anything - he's going to whichever team offers the highest pick for him. you mean to tell me if it comes down to the Chiefs offering Casserly a 4th round pick and the Packers offering Casserly a late 1st round pick but Henson prefers the warmer KC weather - Casserly is gonna take the 4th round pick.



Since he doesn't have to sign with whoever trades for him, I'd say he has all the say in the world where he goes.

[Anthony]

what bargaining power does he have? he's been out of the game for the last several years?

what would give him the power and right to determine where he goes when other's who are more established than he is don't hold out because they don't like the team they were drafted by?

the point is to get drafted and get the contract you want - not try to force your way onto the team of your choice.

just trying to ascertain why it is people think it matters where he wants to play and why someone with minimal football experience all of a sudden is in a position to tell teams where he's going. players are pawns and as long as you pay up they'll shut up.

[lynchjm24]

what bargaining power does he have? he's been out of the game for the last several years?

what would give him the power and right to determine where he goes when other's who are more established than he is don't hold out because they don't like the team they were drafted by?

the point is to get drafted and get the contract you want - not try to force your way onto the team of your choice.

just trying to ascertain why it is people think it matters where he wants to play and why someone with minimal football experience all of a sudden is in a position to tell teams where he's going. players are pawns and as long as you pay up they'll shut up.

You don't have any clue do you?

If he doesn't want to play somewhere, he can take his chances in the draft. The players aren't pawns, the players are everything. Without the players you've got nothing. Ask every half-assed league that tried to challenge the NFL.

His situation is unique, he gets a say in where he wants to go because he walked away from 12MM dollars in baseball.

It doesn't matter to me where he wants to play, but it sure as hell matters to the teams trying to trade for him. This isn't anything new, ask the Nets and the Hornets about Kobe Bryant and he had less experience then Henson. Sorry if reality and the way you want things to work doesn't line up.

[CrazyRooster]

I guess the Bills might be interested in the guy...
Hehe, take a look at this:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/peter_king/02/16/mmqb/index.html

" Twenty NFL teams were represented at Henson's workout last Thursday, but no team had a bigger contingent than Buffalo, who lined up in a formation that gives new meaning to five-wides. General manager Tom Donahoe, new head coach Mike Mularkey, offensive coordinator Tom Clements, quarterbacks coach Sam Wyche and even vice president/business administration Jim Overdorf showed up en masse for the quarterback's eagerly anticipated NFL unveiling. What, 80-something Bills owner Ralph Wilson was too busy?

"I keep reading all about how we had so many people there,'' Wyche said on Monday. "It's just that we flew in a private plane, and we had five seats. We had to fill them. So, yes, we did have a mob.

"But had we not come out holding those red and blue flags that said B-I-L-L-S on them, I don't think we would have made quite so much of an impression. Maybe we kind of tipped our hand there a little bit.''

[cthomer5000]

I thought the one Sam Whyce quote I read pretty much summed up the workout (and the actual importance of it). it was something to the effect of "You never make a decision to get a guy based on a workout like this, you only elminiate people. Nobody eliminated him after today."