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The right to move on
Bills RB Henry has earned opportunity to be traded
Posted: Tuesday March 29, 2005 11:33AM; Updated: Tuesday March 29, 2005 2:10PM
The situation involving Travis Henry and the Buffalo Bills finally has reached its boiling point. He's griping about the team not accommodating his wish to be traded. His agent claims this matter could get ugly if it doesn't get resolved soon. Meanwhile, the Bills say they want the best possible deal for their disgruntled running back. Personally, I'm surprised it's taken this long for Henry to fire away publicly.
For those who haven't been following this matter, Henry was the Bills starting running back for three years until he lost his job to Willis McGahee midway through last season. When the 2004 campaign ended, the Bills granted Henry permission to seek a trade. Henry has recently told the Buffalo News and the Associated Press that he has an equitable proposal on the table: a swap that would send him to Arizona for disgruntled left tackle L.J. Shelton. The only problem? Henry claims the Bills are dragging their feet on the deal and he's tired of waiting.
I can understand Henry's frustration. He watched the Bills use a first-round draft pick on McGahee in 2003, right after Henry ran for a career-high 1,438 yards that year. Henry then gained 1,356 yards the next season while fully aware that McGahee would be coming after his job soon. I'll admit that Henry had a fair chance to hold on to his spot last season -- he started five of the first six games before injuries and McGahee's presence limited him to a career-low 326 yards -- but let's be serious. The Bills had taken a considerable gamble by drafting McGahee, who was coming off a major knee injury. They were determined to get him in the lineup eventually.
But this is where Henry deserves credit. He didn't gripe. He didn't morph into a locker room cancer. He didn't do anything to make the situation worse for himself. He kept his mouth shut, worked his butt off and tried to make the most of what had to be a difficult situation. His willingness to play the good soldier is one reason for the Bills to accept what appears to be a sensible swap.
This current proposal, without knowing all the specifics, sounds equitable. The Cardinals need a running back since Emmitt Smith has retired and Marcel Shipp is recovering from a broken left leg. The Bills need a left tackle, because last year's starter, Jonas Jennings, signed a free agent deal with San Francisco. The problem, however, is that the Bills apparently don't consider this a fair trade. They think they can do better and I'm assuming that's because Henry is a more accomplished player at his position than the 29-year-old Shelton is at his. Here's the reality: The Bills probably won't see a better offer. The market for running backs is too soft.
If a franchise is looking for a gifted, proven runner, they could make a deal for Indianapolis Pro Bowler Edgerrin James or Seattle's Shaun Alexander, the NFL's second-leading rusher last season. If teams don't want to pay big money for them, they could pick up Denver's Reuben Droughns or Cleveland's William Green, two other players who've been given permission by their respective teams to seek trades. A player such as Henry falls somewhere between that first and second group of runners. He's been productive but he's also been banged up (he missed the last five games of this season with torn ligaments in his right ankle and played the last six and a half games of 2003 with a cracked right fibula). He also doesn't have the luxury of a surplus of suitors. Miami and Tampa Bay are the only other teams who covet a running back and, like Arizona, they could easily find one in a draft that includes stud backs such as Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams and Cedric Benson.
So the question Henry wants the Bills to consider is this: Why would any team be willing to give Buffalo a better deal than what Arizona has on the table? Anybody who has followed the Bills' knows that Henry can't be on that team next season. He's heading into the final year of his contract so the team has to move him eventually if it wants something in return. Henry also has publicly stated that he won't attend any mini-camps or training camp practices if the Bills can't get something done this offseason. That comment ruins any leverage the Bills thought they had in making a favorable swap.
At this point, my suspicion is that a deal will be done as the draft nears, solely because that's how these things play out sometimes. But I can understand if Henry is frustrated. He's played the loyal company man long enough. He accepted that McGahee was a better fit for the team and he wants to move on with his life, as quickly as possible. Given how professionally he's conducted himself with the Bills over the last four years, it would be a shame if he didn't get that wish.
Bills RB Henry has earned opportunity to be traded
Posted: Tuesday March 29, 2005 11:33AM; Updated: Tuesday March 29, 2005 2:10PM
The situation involving Travis Henry and the Buffalo Bills finally has reached its boiling point. He's griping about the team not accommodating his wish to be traded. His agent claims this matter could get ugly if it doesn't get resolved soon. Meanwhile, the Bills say they want the best possible deal for their disgruntled running back. Personally, I'm surprised it's taken this long for Henry to fire away publicly.
For those who haven't been following this matter, Henry was the Bills starting running back for three years until he lost his job to Willis McGahee midway through last season. When the 2004 campaign ended, the Bills granted Henry permission to seek a trade. Henry has recently told the Buffalo News and the Associated Press that he has an equitable proposal on the table: a swap that would send him to Arizona for disgruntled left tackle L.J. Shelton. The only problem? Henry claims the Bills are dragging their feet on the deal and he's tired of waiting.
I can understand Henry's frustration. He watched the Bills use a first-round draft pick on McGahee in 2003, right after Henry ran for a career-high 1,438 yards that year. Henry then gained 1,356 yards the next season while fully aware that McGahee would be coming after his job soon. I'll admit that Henry had a fair chance to hold on to his spot last season -- he started five of the first six games before injuries and McGahee's presence limited him to a career-low 326 yards -- but let's be serious. The Bills had taken a considerable gamble by drafting McGahee, who was coming off a major knee injury. They were determined to get him in the lineup eventually.
But this is where Henry deserves credit. He didn't gripe. He didn't morph into a locker room cancer. He didn't do anything to make the situation worse for himself. He kept his mouth shut, worked his butt off and tried to make the most of what had to be a difficult situation. His willingness to play the good soldier is one reason for the Bills to accept what appears to be a sensible swap.
This current proposal, without knowing all the specifics, sounds equitable. The Cardinals need a running back since Emmitt Smith has retired and Marcel Shipp is recovering from a broken left leg. The Bills need a left tackle, because last year's starter, Jonas Jennings, signed a free agent deal with San Francisco. The problem, however, is that the Bills apparently don't consider this a fair trade. They think they can do better and I'm assuming that's because Henry is a more accomplished player at his position than the 29-year-old Shelton is at his. Here's the reality: The Bills probably won't see a better offer. The market for running backs is too soft.
If a franchise is looking for a gifted, proven runner, they could make a deal for Indianapolis Pro Bowler Edgerrin James or Seattle's Shaun Alexander, the NFL's second-leading rusher last season. If teams don't want to pay big money for them, they could pick up Denver's Reuben Droughns or Cleveland's William Green, two other players who've been given permission by their respective teams to seek trades. A player such as Henry falls somewhere between that first and second group of runners. He's been productive but he's also been banged up (he missed the last five games of this season with torn ligaments in his right ankle and played the last six and a half games of 2003 with a cracked right fibula). He also doesn't have the luxury of a surplus of suitors. Miami and Tampa Bay are the only other teams who covet a running back and, like Arizona, they could easily find one in a draft that includes stud backs such as Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams and Cedric Benson.
So the question Henry wants the Bills to consider is this: Why would any team be willing to give Buffalo a better deal than what Arizona has on the table? Anybody who has followed the Bills' knows that Henry can't be on that team next season. He's heading into the final year of his contract so the team has to move him eventually if it wants something in return. Henry also has publicly stated that he won't attend any mini-camps or training camp practices if the Bills can't get something done this offseason. That comment ruins any leverage the Bills thought they had in making a favorable swap.
At this point, my suspicion is that a deal will be done as the draft nears, solely because that's how these things play out sometimes. But I can understand if Henry is frustrated. He's played the loyal company man long enough. He accepted that McGahee was a better fit for the team and he wants to move on with his life, as quickly as possible. Given how professionally he's conducted himself with the Bills over the last four years, it would be a shame if he didn't get that wish.
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but on draft day the pretenders will be seperated from the contenders when it comes to RB's. There are lkely several teams interested in Henry/Alexander/James. The fact is that with at least 3 guys draftable early, there are less expensive options for teams. Not all of them will have their needs met in the first round. Additonally, when team resolve who they like and want in the draft and weigh that against their draft position then you'll see if anyone really wants to pay the price for these guys.2 factors for teams: 1. Draft picks. Many teams do not want to give up picks. This is a deep draft and value will be detemined by a team's percieved value before any trigger is pulled.3. Cap cost. It will cost teams more cap space to acquire James/Alexander than drafting a rookie.So does a team spend draft picks or cap money to resolve their problem at RB? I can't tell you who woll do what but I suspect there will be at least 2 trades on draft day that involve RB's as teams strategize their way through the draft.
Cry me a river buddy. You must be a fan of one of those sucky teams that hasn't won anything in the last 20 years because their GM is "nice" to the players and does what the fans think he should do. 
If not, I feel sorry for your outlook on life and the people around you.Colin
