In his seven-year NFL career, Travis Henry rushed for more than 1,350 yards three times. After stints in Buffalo and Tennessee, his last carry came with the Broncos in 2007. Then-coach Mike Shanahan explained that Henry was released less than a year after the Broncos signed him because the running back lacked commitment. Maybe at his day job, but that certainly wasn't the case in all aspects of Henry's life; in March we learned that he had 11 kids by 10 women, so he's clearly committed to something.
As it turns out, his astounding ability to procreate is the least of his worries, even though there was a time, after signing a five-year, $25 million deal, when he couldn't afford to make his child support payments (although, oddly, it didn't prevent him from dropping $250K on jewelry).
After NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Henry, he turned to the streets. Specifically, cocaine trafficking and all the trappings that go with it. Like, say, threatening to kill those customers who didn't pay in a timely fashion.
And now, less than two years since he last played an NFL down, Henry's headed to the joint. Via the Denver Post:
Henry has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for financing a drug trafficking operation that moved cocaine between Denver and Billings.SI.com's Ross Tucker, who also played in the NFL, Tweets that, "It is sad to see what T-Hen has become. He is not a malicious guy, just makes very poor choices."
Henry, 30, of Frostproof, Fla., was arrested by federal drug agents last October-just a few months after the running back's release from the Denver Broncos.
He pleaded guilty in April to a single count of trafficking cocaine. In handing down Wednesday's sentence, U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull also gave Henry five years of probation upon his release and recommended that he enter a 500-hour drug treatment program.
Which is what you could also say about Pacman Jones, Michael Vick and Maurice Clarett. Upshot: all the extra time will give Henry a chance to start that blog he's been talking about.
Athletes in Trouble With the Law
July 15: Former NFL running back Travis Henry Henry is sentenced to three years in federal prison for financing a drug trafficking operation. Click through to see more sports figures who ran into trouble with the law.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images
July 14: Former Brazilian soccer star Romario is arrested for allegedly failing to make child support payments.
Ricardo Moraes, AP
July 14: Former NBA star Antoine Walker faces criminal charges stemming from $822,500 in gambling debts. Prosecutors say he failed to make good on 10 checks totaling $1 million written to Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood and the Red Rock Resort.
Joe Murphy, NBAE / Getty Images
July 9: Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith was given a 90-day suspended jail sentence for his DUI conviction.
Chris O'Meara, AP
July 2: Former major leaguer Jim Leyritz was arrested on charges of domestic battery against his ex-wife, just two months before his trial on a DUI manslaughter charge was set to begin.
Larry Marano, Getty Images
June 30: Nuggets star J.R. Smith was sentenced to 90 days in jail for causing an auto accident that killed his friend. The judge suspended 60 days of the sentence provided Smith performs 500 hours of community service.
Chris Carlson, AP
June 22: Former USC player Stais Boseman, seen here in a 1996 photo, was arrested for investigation of carjacking.
J.D. Cuban, Getty Images
June 16: Mel Hall, who played for four teams in his 13-year major league career, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl he coached on a basketball team a decade ago. He was sentenced to 45 years in jail.
Ray Stubblebine, AP
June 17: Former quarterback Ryan Leaf, seen here after being drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 1998, was arrested at the Canadian border on drug and burglary charges. He was wanted in the state of Texas.
Mark Lennihan, AP
June 16: NFL wide receiver Donte Stallworth, left, pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter and will serve 30 days in jail.
Alan Diaz, AP


















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
7-16-2009 @ 9:33AM
sharffj said...
The logest yard football team has a new running back
Reply
7-16-2009 @ 9:44AM
mshendrix05 said...
Articles like this sadden me. Come on man, Got to do better!
Reply
7-16-2009 @ 9:56AM
wwofrichmond189 said...
You can take him out the streets, but you can't take the streets out otta him.
Reply
7-16-2009 @ 11:12AM
Ed Fielding said...
Man, most of us just wish that we had half the talent of guys like Henry. Now he's just another statistic of young black guys who are in jail. The statistics are no accidentand not the result of racism as many blacks proclaim. I guess that it just is what it is and for now anyway, isn't going to change.
Reply
7-16-2009 @ 11:38AM
Ric Diaz said...
I DO AGREE WITH YOU ED AND IM A BLACK MAN.
7-16-2009 @ 1:27PM
Paskulo said...
Another total waste of human protoplasm.
7-16-2009 @ 11:48AM
Townsends said...
hmmmmm like this black guy is the only drug pusher. You must be insane to think that the "history" of drugs(hierarchy) are from blacks. It;s foolish to think that. We all know the culprits behind this drug war.
Reply
8-08-2009 @ 4:07PM
stpkedj307 said...
George Bush Sr. was one of the biggest cocaine trafficers in US History! While head of the CIA we traded cocaine and weapons with Iran and General Noreiga in Panama. Then in 1989 he locked up Manuel so his consprititor would remain silent.
7-16-2009 @ 11:49AM
blake said...
What a piece of [deleted] this guy is...........the National Felon League is alive and well........
Reply
7-16-2009 @ 12:13PM
alphama333 said...
ANYONE ELSE WHO DRUG TRAFFICS GETS 10 TO 15 YRS IN PRISON. HMMMMM...SHOULDN'T HE GET THE SAME? OH, THAT'S RIGHT! HE'S A FOOTBALL STAR...A CELEB. YOU GET OFF ON A FEW YEARS TO NONE IF YOU HAVE MONEY TO THROW AT THE JUDGE & JURY.
Reply
7-16-2009 @ 12:24PM
thomasbacot12aol said...
Another dumb ass brother
Reply
7-16-2009 @ 12:27PM
DON said...
I'M BEGINNING TO THINK THESE ATHLETES NEED BABY SITTERS. JEEZ THEY HAVE THE WORLD BY THE TAIL AND THEY EITHER STICK IT UP THIER NOSE, VEINS, OR GAMBLING AND THEY WANT ME TO FEAL SORRY FOR THEM. DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH BOYS AND GIRLS , THEY HAVE ACHEIVED THE SAME STATUS, I WON'T GO TO A GAME THAT I HAVE TO PAY TO SEE. IT'S MORE FUN TO GO TO TOWN AND WATCH PEE WEE FOOTBALL OR LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL. NOW THESE KIDS ARE HAVING FUN AND ISN'T THAT WHAT WE REALLY LIKE TO WATCH?
Reply
7-16-2009 @ 5:31PM
regorluap said...
Don....you get an "atta boy" for that!!
7-16-2009 @ 6:14PM
Gary said...
Very well put Don. You hit the nail on the head.
7-16-2009 @ 12:34PM
cdmkt said...
How is Travis Henry in prison going to help his large number of kids?
Reply
7-16-2009 @ 1:40PM
sharffj said...
welfare
7-16-2009 @ 5:34PM
regorluap said...
He should have thought about that before he screwed up!
7-17-2009 @ 3:21AM
augustradesman said...
By not becoming a larger pack of welfare kids.
7-16-2009 @ 2:13PM
Dale said...
should change his name to dumbass dickhead
Reply
7-16-2009 @ 2:26PM
ej1957 said...
Boy, you white guys that continue to make racist comments like that just don't know the facts. Just like Welfare, you think more Blacks are on Welfare...wrong.. more whites recieve Welfare than Blacks. Idiot racist, go learn your facts first then make some factual comments.
Reply