A little anxious, Mike Shanahan nearly tipped forward out of his chair.
The Broncos coach chose his Monday press gathering to publicly defend Travis Henry, his more well-known, if second-best running back. Second-best? Selvin Young has forced the discussion.
Shortly into Shanahan’s question-and-answer session, Henry came up. Only it was about his health. Health? Shanahan didn’t want to talk about a bum knee when Henry’s career hinges on whether he can beat what he says is a bum rap.
Henry is facing a one-year suspension after a urine sample taken in early September tested positive for marijuana. His hearing with the NFL will be Friday afternoon in Phoenix. After goading the media into asking the question that until now had been considered off limits, Shanahan leaned slightly forward in his chair, pulled up his dress socks and let the world know he has Henry’s back.
“If the tests were positive, Travis would not be on our football team right now,” Shanahan said. “When he went back and took the hair sample and that was negative, the lie detector test and that was negative, we’ll let due process take care of itself. If Travis took a test and it was positive, after what he promised me, he wouldn’t be on the football team right now.”
Why did Shanahan publicly testify now? The emergence of Young may have been a nudge. Broncoland is wondering out loud: Why keep Henry and all his off-field distractions if the kid has been performing better, anyway?
Henry already has missed two games because of injury, and Young played well each time. Henry missed practice last week because of a sore knee, and although he could have played in the game Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, Shanahan felt the team had a better chance of winning if he gave the ball to the fresher, faster legs of Young.
Young gained 109 yards in Denver’s win.
“Me, personally, I look at it like I’m a batter in the box,” Young said after the game. “And when it’s my turn to hit, I’m going to swing away. I’m not going to stand there with my bat on my shoulder. If I’m not in the box, my mind-frame is the same. I’m standing back there getting ready to swing in case my turn comes.”
Given Young’s performance and the approaching hearing, Shanahan felt compelled to send the message that he believes Henry is innocent.
Henry vehemently disputes the test on several points and momentarily stopped the NFL from imposing the one-year penalty by taking his matter to court.
A nice try, but regardless of the legal proceedings, the NFL plans to rule on Henry’s case. League commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to issue his judgment sometime after the Broncos play Monday night against the Tennessee Titans at Invesco Field at Mile High. It could be the last time Henry plays for the Broncos.
“I think everything is going to work out with Travis,” said Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall. “We’re going to have him the rest of the season, but you always want to have depth.”
The case for Henry’s innocence: The test showed 21 nanograms of THC in Henry’s system. Considering a nanogram is one-billionth of a gram, the measurement is extremely low. A few days before the positive test, and a few days after, Henry had clean urine samples. His defense team will argue the low levels of THC were either the result of second-hand smoke, or faulty testing.
Henry volunteered to have his hair follicles tested, considered by some to be a more accurate gauge than the urine sample. He also took a lie detector test for Shana- han, who said Henry passed both tests.
Problem is, this is Henry’s third strike. The first offense put him in the league’s rehab program. The second offense brought Henry a four-game suspension in 2005 while he was with Tennessee.
When a guy has two strikes, 21 nanograms might be 21 too many. A third offense could bring a one-year suspension, which to a running back could mean a lifetime. See Ricky Williams.
“The commissioner is going to wait until he hears all of the facts, and I’m sure he’ll weigh it, and then make a decision,” Shanahan said. “Knowing our commissioner, he’ll definitely give him a fair shake.”
Henry’s case comes as the Broncos are salivating at the prospects of finishing the season with a formidable tailback rotation. For the game Monday against Tennessee, the Broncos figure to put Henry and Young in competition for carries. The hot back would get 15 to 18 carries; the other back would get eight to 10 carries. Henry would bring toughness between the tackles. Young would bring not only speed, but speed off the jump.
It could be a dream tailback duo no one could stop. Other than Goodell.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
