Travis Henry Sentenced to 3 years in Drug Case

NFL News - July 16, 2009 - Written by Bruce

NFL running back Travis Henry has been sentenced to three years in a federal drug case. Henry was released last year by the Denver Broncos and was arrested a few months later by federal agents. Reportedly Henry had been financing a drug ring which moved cocaine between Montana and Colorado. In April he pled guilty to a single count of of conspiracy to traffic cocaine. At the time he was arrested Henry told police that he was having problems paying his child support for nine children he has fathered with nine different women. The judge in the case commented that Henry had big problem with marijuana which ruined his NFL career and led to his legal troubles. Henry was facing up to ten years to life in prison and a four million dollar fine.

Henry grew up in poverty as his single mother struggled financially to support the family. Henry found football and never looked back as he was a star player throughout his career. His senior year in high school he rushed for an amazing forty two touchdowns in fourteen games. He went on to star at Tennessee and won a National Championship with them in 1998. He broke school records for yards rushing, rushing attempts, and 100 yard rushing games. In 2001 he was drafted in the 2nd round by the Buffalo Bills. In his second season with them he rushed for over 1,400 yards and was voted to the Pro Bowl. A few years later he demanded a trade when he was told he would be a backup to new Bills running back Willis McGahee. He was traded to the Tennessee Titans before the 2005 season, and he was then suspended for four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He went on to play well for Tennessee in 2006 but the team decided he was too much of a distraction and released him before the 2007 season. The Broncos signed him but he continued to have problems and failed the league's substance abuse policy more than once. They finally decided that they had enough of Henry and released him in 2008. The NFL announced on August 31, 2008 that Henry would be suspended for at least one year for again violating its drug policy. With his NFL career on hold and likely over for good, Henry turned to selling drugs to supplement his income.

As a football player Henry was a star from high school all way through the NFL. He broke high school records, won a national title in college while breaking school records at Tennessee, and he made the Pro Bowl as an NFL player. With all of his successes Travis Henry was still unable to keep his life on track. He had failed drug tests multiple times while in the NFL and ultimately it was the poor choices that he decided to make which led him to this point. He was done in by the driver who was moving the cocaine between the two states for Henry. That same driver helped authorities with their case against Henry. A few weeks later Henry was caught in Denver leaving his apartment with 6 kilograms of cocaine. He was caught in a pursuit after he tried to run away. It is sad to see the former NFL star go down this path, but now he will have to face the consequences for all of his poor choices.