Born and raised in Frostproof, Fla., with his mom, Karnella, who worked as a picker in the local orange groves, two brothers and a sister. Henry, 28, was a Parade All-American and Mr. Florida Football as a senior after scoring 42 touchdowns in 14 games to lead Frostproof to the state title. At Tennessee, he shared the tailback spot with Jamal Lewis for three years and became a second-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in the 2001 draft.
Klis: Florida is a football hotbed for high school talent. And you were Mr. Everything in Florida football. What was that like?
Henry: It was crazy because it got to the point where I was in high school but I was getting so much national attention. The big-city newspapers would come out. I remember The Tampa Tribune would come out with a helicopter numerous times. It was fun. I got a chance to get where I’m at now. Helped me prepare for what I’m doing.
Klis: What was a typical summer day for Travis Henry growing up in Frostproof?
Henry: Summer days I was either doing a summer job or lifting weights. We were getting ready to win state.
Klis: What was your first job?
Henry: Working in a watermelon field. We’d cut the watermelons from the field and load them up on a diesel truck. And then the big diesel would take them to the grocery stores.
Klis: It’s nobody’s business, but a few weeks ago, there was a story about you having children out of wedlock. I can’t imagine you were pleased to have your personal life outed like that.
Henry: Let me put it like this: I know people who are in similar situations. I know players who are in the same situation I’ve been in. I wasn’t worried about it coming out. I didn’t like the way they went about it. That’s what hurt me about it. I got a lot of phone calls from players I know – I’m not going to say any names – but they were saying, ‘I’ve got kids and nothing was said.’ I don’t want to comment any more about it. It’s my business. I’m a good father. I take care of my kids. I just didn’t like the way people tried to make me out to be somebody I’m not. Those people don’t know me. Nobody knows what I’ve been through.
Klis: Can I let Bronco fans know you financially support your children and have a relationship with them?
Henry: Most definitely. I’ve got something I’m going to do this season to solidify all that. But that’s my private business that I’m going to keep private.
Klis: That’s cool. I hear you.
Henry: You can call my mama and ask her how I am with all my kids and she’ll tell you.
Klis: If there’s one thing I’ve learned through interviewing all these stars on top of the world, it’s that the top doesn’t seem like it’s all that great.
Henry: Most of my life, I always wanted to be this icon, a football star. And it’s funny, I sign this big contract, this is my seventh year and out of all this time, now they want to dig deep. It’s funny, but that’s just the way it is.
Klis: Let’s talk Denver. Have you got yourself settled in?
Henry: I bought myself a townhome. I am settled in. Right now, I’m just focusing in on football because I know the team is supporting me. I know Coach Shanahan has got my back. He reassured me of that. So I just want to go out and help this team win.
Klis: What do you like to do in your time away from Dove Valley?
Henry: I like bowling. I’m a typical guy who likes video games. I like to shoot pool. I like going to the movies. I like to eat spaghetti for my meals. And I also want to say I like to spend time with my girlfriend. We spend a lot of time together.
Klis: What’s your bowling average?
Henry: I’m about a 175. It’s something I try to keep up.
Klis: You cook your own spaghetti?
Henry: Yeah, I make a real good spaghetti. I try to make it every week. I try to make it every Thursday night.
Klis: Got any business interests outside football?
Henry: My main focus is on football, but I have ventured out into doing some things I’d like to do after football. Properties, the real estate business.
Klis: This offseason, I worked on some stories with former players who are in tough shape physically and financially. I guess the moral of their story is, keep an eye on that portfolio. You’re going to play awhile, but life without football will be here before you know it.
Henry: I know. I can’t believe this is the third game of the year already. I know some players who are out of the game, too. And I’ve already blown my share of money. I know how it is and I’ve learned a lot from it. I’m just glad I got another opportunity to come here, sign a big contract or whatever. I’ve been blessed because I know it isn’t forever. I’m preparing myself. I’m focusing on what I have to focus on right now, and that’s football. But at the end, I’m going to have things lined up, most definitely.
Klis: There was a lot of hype about how your style of running would fit perfectly with the offensive line here. But it’s one thing to read about it and another to see it.
Henry: This may sound crazy, but I just found out that I was leading the league (in rushing). I try not to read the papers because I want to stay focused. The thing is, I still think there’s more to see. With the line I’ve got, I can do some big things.
Klis: Thing is, you could go for 130 every week and defenses still won’t gear up to stop you because of what you have at quarterback and receiver.
Henry: We look good on paper, but we’ve got to put everything together. We’ve been putting up yards, but we haven’t opened up the way we should be opening up. And that’s scary to think about for me. I’m like, “Whoa!” I know I expect more and my teammates expect more. That’s a good thing.
The Henry file
* Running back
* 5-feet-9, 230 pounds.
* Played with the Tennessee Titans in
2005 and 2006 after playing his first
four NFL seasons with the Buffalo
Bills. Was voted to the Pro Bowl in
2002. The Broncos signed Henry after
he was released by the Titans.
* Born in Frostproof, Fla.
* Majored in sociology at the University
of Tennessee.
Editor’s note: Throughout the season, Broncos reporter Mike Klis and photographer Cyrus McCrimmon will help readers get to know one of the team’s players on a deeper level. McCrimmon’s photographs will complement a weekly conversation with Klis about life, work and play.
