Henderson article on Bengals.com

[Kazkal]

A rookie's story

By GEOFF HOBSON

May 11, 2006

6:50 p.m.

Eric Henderson didn’t realize Sunday is Mother’s Day.

When you’ve been a father, brother, uncle, and a Big Daddy along the defensive front since you can remember, the Hallmark weekends get lost in the cards you’re dealt every day.

But Henderson, undrafted, undersized and uncompromising in his belief he’s the best defensive end in the nation when the Bengals open rookie camp Friday night, doesn’t moan about getting a lousy hand.

“He doesn’t feel sorry for himself. He uses it as motivation,” says Willie Brooks, the gym teacher who befriended him when his mother died at age 10.

Henderson, Georgia Tech’s relentless defensive end, is among 38 rookies and first-year players scheduled to gather at Paul Brown Stadium for five workouts Saturday through Monday. He leads their class of college free agents with the biggest pay day and maybe the biggest upside.

“I still don’t understand it. It’s crazy,” says Henderson of not getting a Draft Day call. “Look at my career stats and I missed seven games. Crazy.”

The definition of crazy? Working in the same ACC, No. 1 pick Mario Williams of North Carolina State finished with 55.5 tackles and 25.5 sacks. Henderson went for 59.5 and 25, respectively.

But there certainly can’t be a richer rookie story even if Henderson’s bonus is most likely somewhere between $6-10,000, which may have been Williams’ limo tip for Draft Weekend.

“God has taken away a lot, but he’s also blessed me with a lot,” Henderson says. “There must be a reason. There’s always a reason.”

Before Ramona Henderson died at 32 of breast cancer in the West Bank of New Orleans, she told Eric that he must look out for James and Erica, his younger brother and sister, when she was gone.

“It’s amazing, but everything she told me, I can remember like it was yesterday,” Henderson says. “In those 10 years, she taught me everything I ever needed to know. I know she’s proud of me. I know she’s proud of us.”

He would have help. They moved in with his grandmother and she watched over them until she died when he was a high school senior. Then the aunt who was caring for James and Erica passed the next year while Henderson was a freshman at Georgia Tech. When his brother graduated two years ago from high school, he remembered what his mother said.

“He was going in the wrong direction. I snuck him on campus so he could live with me,” Henderson says of James. “I wanted to put him in a positive situation. The goal was to get him away from the drugs and all the other stuff to see how good role models live. We had dorms that are suites, and he slept on the coach and was just like any other college student.”

While Henderson was on his way to becoming Tech’s all-time leader in tackles for loss, he enrolled James at DeKalb Technical College. Then when Hurricane Katrina hit on the eve of the 2005 season, he went days without word from New Orleans about Erica and her baby. Even though the West Bank was one of the few places not ravaged by floods, the silence was ear splitting.

With Tech’s opener against Auburn televised on ESPN, a phone number was put on the screen and anyone who knew of Henderson’s sister was asked to call.

At half time, he was told his uncle had called with news that everyone in the family was fine, and he ended the game with a sack and forced fumble to secure the win.

“I don’t think that had anything to do with how I played,” Henderson says. “I knew it was a family situation. But I’ve also got faith. I already knew everything would turn out all right.”

Jay Hayes, the Bengals defensive line coach, listened almost unbelievably to his story this past February at the NFL scouting combine. Henderson wasn’t one of the Bengals’ 60 scheduled interviews, but he was on the club’s list to find and Hayes tracked him down and just listened for about 15 minutes.

“As he kept talking, I felt myself pulling for him,” Hayes says. “The thing was, he was so calm about it. The whole story, from an early age, to be able to handle all the adversity.

“I was curious more than anything. I asked him, ‘And you graduated, too? How did you do all that?’ I never went there or coached there, but I understand that Tech is a difficult place to go to school.”

He did it in four and a half years, and leaves Tech with a business management degree. One of the football program’s academic advisers whiffed on that one.

Glenn Spencer, his defensive line coach at Tech now at Duke, still remembers a now memorable meeting when Henderson was a red-shirt freshman.

“Eric Henderson is never going to make it through Georgia Tech,” is how Spencer recalls it. “And they told the kid that. Sure enough, he made it through and that may have been one of the reasons why. He’s got a heart as big as this room.”

George O’Leary, the head coach at Georgia Tech when the Wreck came to Brooks’ home for the official signing, knew it was a question. But he also knows his kind of player when he meets him.

Passionate. Emotional. Hungry.

“You could tell looking into his eyes that school was important to him. Football was important to him. He talked about winning a lot,” O’Leary says from Orlando, where he’s now the head coach at Central Florida. “When he got to Tech and got three square meals a day, it was almost like ‘Thank you, thank you.’ I don’t think he had much of that. He was a guy who said, ‘Coach, coach me,’ and I like that

“He came from almost nothing, but he had accountability and responsibility,” O’Leary says. “Those are things I stressed with him and he had those things because of what he was faced with in his up bringing.”

O’Leary, still impressed with his character, saw him not too long ago and liked everything but the dreadlocks. And told him so in a phone conversation.

“I didn’t let them have the long hair,” O’Leary says with a laugh. “I told him to cut his hair.”

Henderson says he has relied on people like Brooks and O’Leary. He followed Brooks, his gym teacher in elementary school, to Karr High School, where he was his defensive coordinator. He talks about the other counselors and coaches that helped get him through.

And his faith.

“He better have that,” Brooks says. “He was like any kid when his mother died. Hurt, but he didn’t cry. I think more things can happen to them when they’re teenagers. They can go the wrong way. I kept him busy. I was always bringing him to camps.”

Despite not being drafted, the 6-2, 265-pound Henderson feels he belongs at this, the first NFL camp for first-rounders like South Carolina cornerback Johnathan Joseph and transplanted quarterbacks like Texas A&M’s Reggie McNeal.

If they said he couldn’t get out of the West Bank, or graduate from Tech, or lead the ACC in sacks his sophomore season (with 11), Henderson knows what they’re saying now.

Arms are too short. Frame is too small. Too brittle.

Not getting drafted?

It only fans his flame.

“I really do think I’m the best defensive end in the country,” he says. “My strongest attribute is getting to the quarterback. It doesn’t matter how big you are. Size doesn’t matter. You have to get there.”

He knows the nicks and nacks that followed him like a black cloud since that break-out sophomore season hurt him.

Henderson missed the first three games of his junior season with a quad pull. He missed four games last season because of an ankle injury.

But the worst came Feb. 17, a week before he was to report to the combine. He dropped a 65-pound barbell on his right toe and broke it, shelving him for the combine.

“It was awful. I was in the best shape of my life. I just never saw it coming,” he says.

It has always been the hard way. Spencer says, “It seems like he always has to wonder what is going to be waiting around the corner for him.”

Henderson says he had just come off running a 4.6-second 40-yard dash before he broke the toe, and by the time he was able to hobble out for the April 4 pro day, he could only offer about a 4.8

“I only had about a week to get ready because I just couldn’t do anything,” Henderson says. “But I had to show them something.”

Still, he knows missing the combine probably sealed his draft fate.

“After I came back from the quad (pull) my junior year, I ended up playing the whole season on a torn hamstring,” Henderson says. “I thought it was only a pull. The coach took me aside and said I needed to suck it up for the team. And that’s what I did. The team needed me and I could play, so I did.”

After the combine interview, Hayes came back to his office and made sure Henderson was one of the first players he watched on tape.

“After talking to him, I knew I could reach him in the room. That he would be focused and he would do his job,” Hayes says. “I thought he was an explosive guy with a lot of plusses to him and he’d be a good second-day pick for us.”

When the Bengals selected USC defensive end Frostee Rucker in the third round, there was no need to take him. But Hayes called Henderson after the Bengals picked for the last time in the seventh round and told him if he didn’t get drafted, they wanted him as a free agent.

The longest shot on any team is a college free agent. He makes the last spot at his position, or the practice squad, or he’s cut. Just another obstacle, now, for a guy who has lived on the course.

Agent Kevin Conner estimates 17 clubs contacted him, but they opted for Cincinnati because they needed ends and they weren’t going to sign any more.

“I can see both sides of the argument,” Spencer says. “He’s undersized. He’s been hurt. He doesn’t have the great measurables. But I’ve also seen plenty of guys like him who have done very well in the NFL. He’s got the great motor and desire.”

Spencer compares his relentless style to, of all people, David Pollack, the former Georgia defensive end the Bengals took in the first round last year. Before Spencer left for Duke after Henderson’s sophomore season, he cut up about a dozen clips of Pollack and ran them next to clips of Henderson for his line to view.

“He wanted to show how the two best defensive ends in the country played,” Henderson says. “All out all time, never stopping, always flying around, always chasing the quarterback. It’s the kind of style I hope to bring to Cincinnati.”

Spencer says what all of his supporters are thinking.

“If he can just stay healthy. . .”

Henderson, who has held up better than most, believes he can do that and more. He’ll be thinking of his mother Sunday and all days because he believes she’s still watching him pursue the NFL dream he had as a 10-year-old.

“One of my coaches told me,” he says, “it’s the will of a man, not the skill of a man.”

Which would sound pretty good on a Hallmark card.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

So he is battling Fanene for a spot for now?

I can't imagine, if he has a good showing in camp and preseason, and stays healthy, he'd make it the PS without getting signed by someone.

[CantStop85]

The definition of crazy? Working in the same ACC, No. 1 pick Mario Williams of North Carolina State finished with 55.5 tackles and 25.5 sacks. Henderson went for 59.5 and 25, respectively.

Makes you scratch your head just a bit...

[walshfan]

had as many sacks as Super Mario.. more tackles..

Hope the kid gets a good look see..Im sure he will.....

[BoltonBA]

Let's just hope he stays healthy enough to show everyone, including himself, what talent he has and can contribute to this team. If he does, I can't wait to see this kid in action

[Stripes]

The definition of crazy? Working in the same ACC, No. 1 pick Mario Williams of North Carolina State finished with 55.5 tackles and 25.5 sacks. Henderson went for 59.5 and 25, respectively.

Makes you scratch your head just a bit...

Yep. Good call, Houston.

[Kazkal]

So he is battling Fanene for a spot for now?

I can't imagine, if he has a good showing in camp and preseason, and stays healthy, he'd make it the PS without getting signed by someone.

I think they'd try IRing him for 1 year before they PS him,I doubt he'd take fanenes spot sense he's our tweener I could see us taking 5 DE's with 9 Dline total (Geathers,justin,henderson,frostee,Fanene(tween))

Peko,,Brob,Adams,Smith or JT or askew for last spot

[West Coast Bengal]

So after reading the most recent article on bengals.com, I feel pretty excited about henderson. I've always felt that coaches go into drafts way too on gaurd, which is why I don't have half the issue with the "Character issues" we drafted. I figure you can look at Chris Henry, then look at all the other guys in the league who had question marks, and we just got an unlucky bite.

So, point being, with stats like Mario Williams in the ACC, he even had more tackles, I think teams were stupid to pass on this guy and his agent even said in an earlier article that tons of teams were after him once he didn't get drafted, but he liked us cause of the chance he had at our position.

I guess 2006 camp is about to be the most competitive EVER!!! AWEOSME!!!

Stoked cause this year is hopefully gonna be gnarly

gnarly = really good!

e.g. Dude, I'm stoked about that wave, I think it's gonna be gnarly!

-West Coast

[Kazkal]

alrdy thread up

[Stripes]

So after reading the most recent article on bengals.com, I feel pretty excited about henderson. I've always felt that coaches go into drafts way too on gaurd, which is why I don't have half the issue with the "Character issues" we drafted. I figure you can look at Chris Henry, then look at all the other guys in the league who had question marks, and we just got an unlucky bite.

So, point being, with stats like Mario Williams in the ACC, he even had more tackles, I think teams were stupid to pass on this guy and his agent even said in an earlier article that tons of teams were after him once he didn't get drafted, but he liked us cause of the chance he had at our position.

I guess 2006 camp is about to be the most competitive EVER!!! AWEOSME!!!

Stoked cause this year is hopefully gonna be gnarly

gnarly = really good!

e.g. Dude, I'm stoked about that wave, I think it's gonna be gnarly!

-West Coast

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude I think Eric could be totally SICK!

[bengal4life]

I'm not sure if anyone has posted this video on another thread or not, anyways I found this on yahoo. Dude could be sick.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/scp_v3/viewer...01623&ch=396337\

Nevermind I saw someone posted it before but for those of you who hasn't seen it here it is again.

[jjakq27]

So after reading the most recent article on bengals.com, I feel pretty excited about henderson. I've always felt that coaches go into drafts way too on gaurd, which is why I don't have half the issue with the "Character issues" we drafted. I figure you can look at Chris Henry, then look at all the other guys in the league who had question marks, and we just got an unlucky bite.

So, point being, with stats like Mario Williams in the ACC, he even had more tackles, I think teams were stupid to pass on this guy and his agent even said in an earlier article that tons of teams were after him once he didn't get drafted, but he liked us cause of the chance he had at our position.

I guess 2006 camp is about to be the most competitive EVER!!! AWEOSME!!!

Stoked cause this year is hopefully gonna be gnarly

gnarly = really good!

e.g. Dude, I'm stoked about that wave, I think it's gonna be gnarly!

-West Coast

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude I think Eric could be totally SICK!

Bitchin.....

[HoosierCat]

So he is battling Fanene for a spot for now?

I can't imagine, if he has a good showing in camp and preseason, and stays healthy, he'd make it the PS without getting signed by someone.

I think they'd try IRing him for 1 year before they PS him,I doubt he'd take fanenes spot sense he's our tweener I could see us taking 5 DE's with 9 Dline total (Geathers,justin,henderson,frostee,Fanene(tween))

Peko,,Brob,Adams,Smith or JT or askew for last spot

Well, in the first place it's a ways from now to the end of training camp. Somebody could easily blow out a body part and end up shelved, which would ease the congestion. But really, I would look for cuts at DT before DE. Geathers, Justin, Henderson and Frostee are our only four true DEs, while we have a seven-car pileup at DT. Looking at that...

Fanene: Probably hangs on as the aforementioned swingman providing backup all along the line.

Peko: Outside chance he could go (dumping a 4th rounder isn't unheard of) but if he disappoints they may try to sneak him onto the PS. If he really was drafted too high as many experts think then that should be possible.

B-Rob: Could be gone. Didn't knock 'em dead as a DT last year and there was talk of moving him to DE a couple weeks ago. Older, got hurt last season.

Sam: Unless he shows up at camp weighing 400+lbs and wearing a MikeBrownSucks.com t-shirt, he'll be here.

Shaun Smith: Probably stays, but Marvin cut Langston Moore after he stepped in and did well, too.

Thornton: Flip a coin. Probably our best defensive lineman, but that's not saying a lot. Expensive. Also got the "possible move to DE" talk a while back. Seemed disenchanted last season (remember the "Askew will be ready when I'm gone next year" bit).

Askew: Mr. Inactive will be Mr. Unemployed if he doesn't get his stuff together real soon.

[BengalPappaw]

I'm glad to see Henderson in the competition for DE -- whether it is against Fanene or Rucker or Geathers.

That competition should make the training camp and pre-season games interesting.

[bengal4life]

I believe the only way B. Rob would move to end is if we were in a 3-4 set downs and the same with Thorton.

[HairOnFire]

I loved the article. In fact, I'm thinking about adopting Henderson in a very real and legal manner. He could be the son I never had or wanted.

BTW, why would you stash Henderson on IR? Both he and his agent claim he's healthy now.

[rwalling]

I loved the article. In fact, I'm thinking about adopting Henderson in a very real and legal manner. He could be the son I never had or wanted.

Happy to see a young man with some character and integrity (not to mention sick talent) get a shot.

(Maybe some of the younger character challenged players will take notice of what a real man behaves like)

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

I think he's going to suck. You hear that Henderson? You're gonna stink it up so bad we are going to think you are Big Duddy Wilkerson all over again. It's going to be terrible

PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND USE IT TO FUEL YOU UP FOR THE SEASON

WHO DEY!

[GROIIIDayton]

BRob and thorton were only talked about as DE in the 3-4.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Brob was talked about as a DE in a 4-3 as well. It just wasn't likely because we needed him at DT. Our DTs are so bad that we will even put our best speed rusher in at DT instead of leaving him on the outside!

[bengal4life]

I want to know how an undrafted free agent can be a bust? It's not like he was drafted and was expected to be great.

[West Coast Bengal]

So after reading the most recent article on bengals.com, I feel pretty excited about henderson. I've always felt that coaches go into drafts way too on gaurd, which is why I don't have half the issue with the "Character issues" we drafted. I figure you can look at Chris Henry, then look at all the other guys in the league who had question marks, and we just got an unlucky bite.

So, point being, with stats like Mario Williams in the ACC, he even had more tackles, I think teams were stupid to pass on this guy and his agent even said in an earlier article that tons of teams were after him once he didn't get drafted, but he liked us cause of the chance he had at our position.

I guess 2006 camp is about to be the most competitive EVER!!! AWEOSME!!!

Stoked cause this year is hopefully gonna be gnarly

gnarly = really good!

e.g. Dude, I'm stoked about that wave, I think it's gonna be gnarly!

-West Coast

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude I think Eric could be totally SICK!

That made my day! Exactly what I was hoping for! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

[schweinhart]

B-Rob: Could be gone. Didn't knock 'em dead as a DT last year and there was talk of moving him to DE a couple weeks ago. Older, got hurt last season.

B-Rob looks like he could be the odd man out if Henderson makes enough of a case to stick. Hate to say that since the improvement B-Rob brought at LDT over Thornton was immediate and obvious in holding a gap, but with Big Sam in Robinson's less viable at that position unless Shaun Smith gets dumped and probably won't get the nod over either Thornton or Peko at the other DT spot. Fanene looked awfully active in very limited PT and probably gets his shot to continue to develop.

B-Rob looks like he'll have to make his case as an end this year and hope the Bengals want to keep 2 DE/DTs in himself and Fanene over a straight DE like Henderson. Of course, there's still time to re-sign Carl Plowed.

[HoosierCat]

but with Big Sam in Robinson's less viable at that position unless Shaun Smith gets dumped

Yeah, that's a scenario that would annoy me, but I could see it happening. I think you're right that Robinson isn't safe, and IMHO (assuming no serious or season-ending injuries before the season at DE or DT, and that they keep Peko on the active roster vs. the PS) it will come down Robinson v. Askew v. S. Smith for that last DT slot.

[ArmyBengal]

Is anyone else done with the Askew project ?? I'm ready for him to get shown the door !!!

WHODEY !!!