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Vikings: Humbled Henson pours himself into opportunity
Once a coveted can't-miss prospect in two sports, he gladly took his next career step -- as a practice-squad QB.
Judd Zulgad, Star Tribune
Drew Henson couldn't have been any further from the spotlight that once shined so brightly on him.
Standing in the Vikings' indoor practice facility at 10:30 Tuesday night, the one-time star quarterback at Michigan, the one-time New York Yankees third baseman of the future and the one-time Dallas Cowboys quarterback in waiting was now just a free agent looking for an opportunity.
So for a half-hour Henson threw passes to a couple of receivers as Vikings coach Brad Childress and a few others watched. "I think it was the first time anybody had been in a situation like that," Henson said.
Henson chuckled Friday as he recalled the circumstances. But to him the circumstances didn't matter. The only thing that was important was that he had persevered to find a job -- even if it was on the Vikings' practice squad.
"Adversity teaches you a lot about your character, and you really have to look at yourself in the mirror and say, 'Why am I doing this?' " Henson said. "It's because you love to play sports. It's not a money thing. I like being on the field, I like playing football, and I like being around my teammates."
If it was a money thing, the 26-year-old Henson likely would have walked away from the adversity-filled world of professional athletics this summer after Cowboys coach Bill Parcells unceremoniously dumped him. Henson had been guaranteed $3.5 million by Dallas when he signed an eight-year deal to be its quarterback of the future in 2004. That came after he decided to give up baseball following a stint in the Yankees organization that began in 2001 when he agreed to a six-year, $17 million deal.
Despite those paydays, there was Henson hustling from an afternoon workout with the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday to get to his late-night session at Winter Park. All for the opportunity to make $4,700 a week as a member of a unit that has no guarantees when it comes to job security and doesn't travel with the team.
"We're just trying to get a feel for him and get him up to speed as fast as we can and just see what he can do," Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said.
No guarantees
Henson, whose father coached with Childress on the Utah staff in 1990, was signed because rookie Tarvaris Jackson is expected to miss about a month after having knee surgery; the Vikings did not want Brad Johnson and Brooks Bollinger getting all the reps in practice.
Once Jackson returns, Henson doesn't know what will happen.
"I'd like to stay here," he said. "You don't want to be a stop-gap guy on the roster, but this is a business and I certainly have seen all parts of it."
Henson learned plenty about the business of the NFL during his two seasons with the Cowboys. Taken by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2003 draft, Henson's rights were traded to Dallas a year later when he decided to give up baseball after hitting .248 in 501 minor league at-bats. Henson started one game for the Cowboys in 2004. Last season, he was inactive for all 16 games. Parcells jettisoned him in August.
"I'm not going to lie," Henson said. "It was definitely frustrating [in Dallas]. Any time you're not where you want to be careerwise it can be frustrating. But it's a learning experience, and no matter what anybody says I'm a better player than I was the day I walked in there. I'm better than I was a year ago."
A look overseas
In an attempt to show the Cowboys what he could do, Henson requested a chance to play in NFL Europe this spring. He finished among the league leaders in several categories, completing 109 of 203 passes for 1,321 yards with 10 touchdowns for the Rhein Fire. Henson threw only three interceptions and had a 84.2 quarterback rating.
"I got a lot of publicity and attention at an early age, but I'm going to pay my dues and I'm willing to make every sacrifice to get where I want to be," Henson said. "Some guys it happens quick, sometimes it doesn't. You never know when that right opportunity is going to come."
http://www.startribune.com/510/story/711792.html
Once a coveted can't-miss prospect in two sports, he gladly took his next career step -- as a practice-squad QB.
Judd Zulgad, Star Tribune
Drew Henson couldn't have been any further from the spotlight that once shined so brightly on him.
Standing in the Vikings' indoor practice facility at 10:30 Tuesday night, the one-time star quarterback at Michigan, the one-time New York Yankees third baseman of the future and the one-time Dallas Cowboys quarterback in waiting was now just a free agent looking for an opportunity.
So for a half-hour Henson threw passes to a couple of receivers as Vikings coach Brad Childress and a few others watched. "I think it was the first time anybody had been in a situation like that," Henson said.
Henson chuckled Friday as he recalled the circumstances. But to him the circumstances didn't matter. The only thing that was important was that he had persevered to find a job -- even if it was on the Vikings' practice squad.
"Adversity teaches you a lot about your character, and you really have to look at yourself in the mirror and say, 'Why am I doing this?' " Henson said. "It's because you love to play sports. It's not a money thing. I like being on the field, I like playing football, and I like being around my teammates."
If it was a money thing, the 26-year-old Henson likely would have walked away from the adversity-filled world of professional athletics this summer after Cowboys coach Bill Parcells unceremoniously dumped him. Henson had been guaranteed $3.5 million by Dallas when he signed an eight-year deal to be its quarterback of the future in 2004. That came after he decided to give up baseball following a stint in the Yankees organization that began in 2001 when he agreed to a six-year, $17 million deal.
Despite those paydays, there was Henson hustling from an afternoon workout with the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday to get to his late-night session at Winter Park. All for the opportunity to make $4,700 a week as a member of a unit that has no guarantees when it comes to job security and doesn't travel with the team.
"We're just trying to get a feel for him and get him up to speed as fast as we can and just see what he can do," Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said.
No guarantees
Henson, whose father coached with Childress on the Utah staff in 1990, was signed because rookie Tarvaris Jackson is expected to miss about a month after having knee surgery; the Vikings did not want Brad Johnson and Brooks Bollinger getting all the reps in practice.
Once Jackson returns, Henson doesn't know what will happen.
"I'd like to stay here," he said. "You don't want to be a stop-gap guy on the roster, but this is a business and I certainly have seen all parts of it."
Henson learned plenty about the business of the NFL during his two seasons with the Cowboys. Taken by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2003 draft, Henson's rights were traded to Dallas a year later when he decided to give up baseball after hitting .248 in 501 minor league at-bats. Henson started one game for the Cowboys in 2004. Last season, he was inactive for all 16 games. Parcells jettisoned him in August.
"I'm not going to lie," Henson said. "It was definitely frustrating [in Dallas]. Any time you're not where you want to be careerwise it can be frustrating. But it's a learning experience, and no matter what anybody says I'm a better player than I was the day I walked in there. I'm better than I was a year ago."
A look overseas
In an attempt to show the Cowboys what he could do, Henson requested a chance to play in NFL Europe this spring. He finished among the league leaders in several categories, completing 109 of 203 passes for 1,321 yards with 10 touchdowns for the Rhein Fire. Henson threw only three interceptions and had a 84.2 quarterback rating.
"I got a lot of publicity and attention at an early age, but I'm going to pay my dues and I'm willing to make every sacrifice to get where I want to be," Henson said. "Some guys it happens quick, sometimes it doesn't. You never know when that right opportunity is going to come."
http://www.startribune.com/510/story/711792.html
