Angus
Active Member
- Messages
- 5,097
- Reaction score
- 20
Ex-Wolverine QB Drew Henson plans to make most of chance
Former Wolverine, Yankee to play in exhibition finale
BY JO-ANN BARNAS • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • August 27, 2008
The music seemed to suit the mood and the moment, reminding Drew Henson that the next 1 1/2 hours would be no different than before.
Advertisement
So when the horn sounded, Henson, in his fifth day as a Lion, took off with his teammates to the far side of the practice field as Sam Cooke's soulful rendition of "Chain Gang," a favorite of coach Rod Marinelli, began blaring from the speakers:
"All day long they work so hard ...
Till the sun is goin' down
Working on the highways and byways and wearing a frown
You hear them moanin' their lives away
Then you hear somebody sa-a-ay..."
Tuesday in Allen Park, it was the sound of Henson calling plays from the huddle. The sound of footsteps dashing a few yards upfield from handoffs to No. 34 (Kevin Smith), then No. 28 (Tatum Bell), then No. 29 (Brian Calhoun), then No. 44 (Artose Pinner).
One might say it was only drill work. But if you know anything about how the past few years have gone for Henson, the former three-sport prep star from Brighton, it would be wise to eliminate the qualifier from that last sentence.
There is no only in football.
Henson was home in Dallas last week with his bride, Madeleine -- they were married July 5 -- when the Lions called offering him the one thing that had failed to come his way all summer: a chance to play again.
The opportunity arose when third-string quarterback Drew Stanton suffered a sprained right thumb in practice. Henson was signed the next day to a free-agent contract.
"I have an opportunity here, and I'm going to try to make the most of it," Henson said Tuesday after practice. "I think any situation you hope that it turns into a long-term thing. But for me right now, it's preparing for Thursday, being sharp there, and then going on. You want to take care of the short term, but also hoping that it could possibly turn into something longer."
The Lions play their exhibition finale Thursday night at Buffalo. The Lions, at 3-0, are one of two unbeaten teams, and Henson, who said he'll likely play in the second half, would like to help make it four in a row.
Marinelli on Tuesday didn't rule out the possibility of Henson playing more than one quarter. "It's possible," he said. "We'll see how this whole thing works out for us. We're trying to get him ready to get some snaps in."
Marinelli hasn't determined how much -- if any -- playing time starter Jon Kitna will see Thursday. Backup Dan Orlovsky, who had a strong showing against Cleveland last week (13-for-20 for 167 yards, one touchdown and one interception) should see a significant amount of playing time.
Despite what others might think, Henson, 28, said he doesn't regret anything about his past, including how he left the University of Michigan before his senior year -- when he was a projected Heisman Trophy candidate -- for the New York Yankees. A third baseman, he played briefly for parts of two seasons for the Yankees in 2002-03 (getting one hit in nine at-bats).
As for the NFL, Henson hasn't stepped on the field in a regular-season game since 2004, when he played seven games -- throwing passes in two and starting once -- with the Dallas Cowboys. He was with the Minnesota Vikings practice squad two years ago, but was cut in training camp last year.
Though some might think that Henson had never lived up to the hype once projected of him, he doesn't see himself as having failed in any of his pursuits. He wouldn't have traded any of his decisions, he said Tuesday, adding that he has become "a better person because of it."
For certain, Henson knows others are happy for him this week. His wife will travel to Buffalo to see him play. He received more than 50 text messages from family and friends over the weekend congratulating him getting picked up by the Lions.
There was also a surprise phone call Sunday from his former U-M coach: Lloyd Carr.
"I didn't think he had the same cell, but he did," Henson said with a laugh. "He said, 'Welcome back' and 'Glad that you got this opportunity.' "
Henson doesn't know what will happen after Thursday. The Lions must cut their roster to a maximum of 53 players by Saturday. Their practice squad will be determined Sunday. The Lions can have up to eight players on that.
"Hopefully it hasn't ended," said Henson, 6-feet-4 and 235 pounds. "There's still many goals I have left for myself, and that's why I'm thankful to get back in the league and get a chance to pursue them.
"But as frustrating and as difficult things have been at certain times, I've still got to realize that I got to the highest level in two different sports.
"I'm probably the most fortunate guy I know."
NOTEBOOK: The Lions needed to trim their roster to 75 on Tuesday, and they did it by cutting defensive end Claude Harriott, cornerback Stephen Howell, guard Carroll Madison, linebacker Tyrone Pruitt and former Michigan State kicker Dave Rayner, who kicked field goals of 30, 38, 47 and 26 yards Saturday in a 26-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080827/SPORTS01/808270373/1049
Former Wolverine, Yankee to play in exhibition finale
BY JO-ANN BARNAS • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • August 27, 2008
The music seemed to suit the mood and the moment, reminding Drew Henson that the next 1 1/2 hours would be no different than before.
Advertisement
So when the horn sounded, Henson, in his fifth day as a Lion, took off with his teammates to the far side of the practice field as Sam Cooke's soulful rendition of "Chain Gang," a favorite of coach Rod Marinelli, began blaring from the speakers:
"All day long they work so hard ...
Till the sun is goin' down
Working on the highways and byways and wearing a frown
You hear them moanin' their lives away
Then you hear somebody sa-a-ay..."
Tuesday in Allen Park, it was the sound of Henson calling plays from the huddle. The sound of footsteps dashing a few yards upfield from handoffs to No. 34 (Kevin Smith), then No. 28 (Tatum Bell), then No. 29 (Brian Calhoun), then No. 44 (Artose Pinner).
One might say it was only drill work. But if you know anything about how the past few years have gone for Henson, the former three-sport prep star from Brighton, it would be wise to eliminate the qualifier from that last sentence.
There is no only in football.
Henson was home in Dallas last week with his bride, Madeleine -- they were married July 5 -- when the Lions called offering him the one thing that had failed to come his way all summer: a chance to play again.
The opportunity arose when third-string quarterback Drew Stanton suffered a sprained right thumb in practice. Henson was signed the next day to a free-agent contract.
"I have an opportunity here, and I'm going to try to make the most of it," Henson said Tuesday after practice. "I think any situation you hope that it turns into a long-term thing. But for me right now, it's preparing for Thursday, being sharp there, and then going on. You want to take care of the short term, but also hoping that it could possibly turn into something longer."
The Lions play their exhibition finale Thursday night at Buffalo. The Lions, at 3-0, are one of two unbeaten teams, and Henson, who said he'll likely play in the second half, would like to help make it four in a row.
Marinelli on Tuesday didn't rule out the possibility of Henson playing more than one quarter. "It's possible," he said. "We'll see how this whole thing works out for us. We're trying to get him ready to get some snaps in."
Marinelli hasn't determined how much -- if any -- playing time starter Jon Kitna will see Thursday. Backup Dan Orlovsky, who had a strong showing against Cleveland last week (13-for-20 for 167 yards, one touchdown and one interception) should see a significant amount of playing time.
Despite what others might think, Henson, 28, said he doesn't regret anything about his past, including how he left the University of Michigan before his senior year -- when he was a projected Heisman Trophy candidate -- for the New York Yankees. A third baseman, he played briefly for parts of two seasons for the Yankees in 2002-03 (getting one hit in nine at-bats).
As for the NFL, Henson hasn't stepped on the field in a regular-season game since 2004, when he played seven games -- throwing passes in two and starting once -- with the Dallas Cowboys. He was with the Minnesota Vikings practice squad two years ago, but was cut in training camp last year.
Though some might think that Henson had never lived up to the hype once projected of him, he doesn't see himself as having failed in any of his pursuits. He wouldn't have traded any of his decisions, he said Tuesday, adding that he has become "a better person because of it."
For certain, Henson knows others are happy for him this week. His wife will travel to Buffalo to see him play. He received more than 50 text messages from family and friends over the weekend congratulating him getting picked up by the Lions.
There was also a surprise phone call Sunday from his former U-M coach: Lloyd Carr.
"I didn't think he had the same cell, but he did," Henson said with a laugh. "He said, 'Welcome back' and 'Glad that you got this opportunity.' "
Henson doesn't know what will happen after Thursday. The Lions must cut their roster to a maximum of 53 players by Saturday. Their practice squad will be determined Sunday. The Lions can have up to eight players on that.
"Hopefully it hasn't ended," said Henson, 6-feet-4 and 235 pounds. "There's still many goals I have left for myself, and that's why I'm thankful to get back in the league and get a chance to pursue them.
"But as frustrating and as difficult things have been at certain times, I've still got to realize that I got to the highest level in two different sports.
"I'm probably the most fortunate guy I know."
NOTEBOOK: The Lions needed to trim their roster to 75 on Tuesday, and they did it by cutting defensive end Claude Harriott, cornerback Stephen Howell, guard Carroll Madison, linebacker Tyrone Pruitt and former Michigan State kicker Dave Rayner, who kicked field goals of 30, 38, 47 and 26 yards Saturday in a 26-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080827/SPORTS01/808270373/1049
