Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Monday that he believes standout running back Travis Henry has a strong chance to win his appeal with the NFL over a drug suspension, based on independent tests Henry has conducted.
Shanahan said Henry had multiple hair-sample and lie-detector tests that all showed he had no marijuana in his system.
Henry’s appeal with the league is set to be discussed Friday in Phoenix. It’s expected that the earliest a decision on the appeal will be made is Nov. 20. That gives Henry at least one more game with the Broncos.
Shanahan said if the independent tests Henry had taken this fall had come back positive, he wouldn’t be with the team. And that is why the Broncos are supporting Henry, Shanahan said.
Henry tested positive for marijuana use in an August test and faces a one-year ban by the league if he loses his appeal. Henry also has a federal lawsuit pending against the NFL. That lawsuit is currently moving through the court process in New York.
But if Henry loses the NFL appeal, he likely would start his suspension immediately.
