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" Erin Henderson looking to revive career with Jets after legal issues " ~ ~ ~

kelly

By kelly
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kelly

kelly

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– One of the newest members of the New York Jets, signed during the offseason and brimming with endless potential but also owning many question marks, Erin Henderson just wants to play football.

 

Henderson did not play football last year, the fallout from a second DUI that scared away some teams despite a career that seemed pointed in the right direction – that is until his car was pulled over last February. In 2013, the last time he stepped on the field, he played in 14 games with 12 starts and was second on the Minnesota Vikings with 112 tackles along with four sacks and two interceptions. At 28-years-old he has plenty left in the tank, especially considering that he didn't play at all last year.

 

An aggressive middle linebacker, Henderson has good instincts and a good motor. Not only does he provide instant depth at the position but he could contend for a starting job under first-year head coach Todd Bowles.He wanted to participate in the inaugural NFL Veterans Combine this past March but the league wouldn't let him register for the event. It was a blow to a player who is desperate to get back onto the field, desperate to put the past 13 months behind him. Desperate to show who he was and perhaps more importantly, who he wasn't.“They said I was too well known of a commodity. People knew who I was, what I was,” Henderson told Metro New York last week during voluntary veterans minicamp. “It was a tough situation, an interesting situation. We tried to do something with the Jets out there and it didn't work out. But they flew me out here, liked what they saw, had a pretty good workout. Had a good feel, a good vibe when I was out here so I signed.

 

“I'm not sure how it happened but I sort of was on coach Bowles' radar a little bit when he was defensive coordinator in Arizona and maybe there was a little bit of interest there at different times," he added. "My agents did a good job of keeping in contact with people, letting me know I was out there and getting onto a roster.”At first glance, he passes the eyeball test and he's the kind of player you want stepping off the bus first. He is thickly built with broad shoulders and has the kind of handshake that leaves an impression several minutes into an interview. His eyes never waver when he talks and instead of meandering with his thoughts he chooses his words deliberately and punctuates each syllable with clarity. He's successful on the field, well-spoken and comes across as a great guy.

 

But he also has been twice arrested in a three-month span on suspicion of DUI, making this talented player who was an undrafted free agent following the 2008 NFL Draft, a bit of a pariah. There was even a report that he showed up to practice hungover one time. In today's NFL, teams will shy away when they see character concerns, especially when that concern is getting behind the wheel of a car under the influence and putting others in harm's way. That's bad press. That's a liability.That's not the man he is anymore, he says.The past year without football has been “a time to get away from the game and focus on who I want to be.” He says that he doesn't want to be just a leader, he wants to be a good teammate, a better husband and father and a better human being. Here with the Jets he believes he can be all those things which led him to sign a one-year contract with the team this offseason.

 

“I'm probably a better person now that I have been my entire life. I've been able to sit down and look at myself in the mirror. I was able to look at myself and evaluate who I am, who I want to be. Be open and honest about myself who I am.I am a redefined version of myself,”Henderson says candidly.“We had some ups and downs,the person that I had before. I didn't dislike me but I didn't take time to change things that I wanted. I'm happy with who I am, what my priorities are and where I'm going.

“The cool thing about being in this situation now is that I don't think I have to prove anything to anybody. I've dealt with what I've had to deal with. I'm on the other side of those things, I'm a better man for it. Now it's about going out there, enjoying life, working hard and being in the locker room. I'm going out there, day by day wanting to do my best and be my best. I don't have anything to prove to anybody.”

 

In 2013, after playing the fourth most snaps in Minnesota, Henderson signed a two-year deal with the team after he cemented themselves into their starting lineup. He comes to a Jets team that last year had little depth at middle linebacker after starters Demario Davis and David Harris.

 

> http://www.metro.us/kristian-dyer/erin-henderson-looking-to-revive-career-with-jets-after-legal-issues/zsJoed---QKf2kWq9f3SM/

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Shadetree

Shadetree

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I hope he's faster than Harris. If he is, he'll be our starting MLB.

This signing has gotten lost in all the other excitement..he was a very productive MLB.

Understatement of the offseason= "defense is shaping up nicely."

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kelly

kelly

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I hope he's faster than Harris. If he is, he'll be our starting MLB.

This signing has gotten lost in all the other excitement..he was a very productive MLB.

Understatement of the offseason= "defense is shaping up nicely."

 

our D dept. is gonna be gooooood ! 

 

 

:character0181:

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papz187

papz187

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I hope he's faster than Harris. If he is, he'll be our starting MLB.

This signing has gotten lost in all the other excitement..he was a very productive MLB.

Understatement of the offseason= "defense is shaping up nicely."

I doubt he'd start over Harris. The new regime already stated how important Harris is with the contract they gave him.

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Shadetree

Shadetree

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I doubt he'd start over Harris. The new regime already stated how important Harris is with the contract they gave him.

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Eh..I'm not so sure. How many impact plays from Harris we gettin?

I've always liked Harris but he's slowed down considerably.

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papz187

papz187

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Eh..I'm not so sure. How many impact plays from Harris we gettin?

I've always liked Harris but he's slowed down considerably.

Yeah, Harris obviously doesn't have elite or even above average speed, but he's definitely valued by guys like Rex and Bowles who know a thing or two about defense. I'm sure he brings a lot of intangibles, is extremely dependable, and is the leader or QB of the defense as refered to in the past.

I guess it wouldn't be out of the questions for Harris to be unseated as a starter, but his replacement would have to do some pretty big things to make that happen.

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#27TheDominator

#27TheDominator

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Eh..I'm not so sure. How many impact plays from Harris we gettin?

I've always liked Harris but he's slowed down considerably.

 

This regime just gave Harris $15M guaranteed over the next two years.  If they thought Harris was too slow and planned to replace him they would probably have let him test the market.

 

The added a bunch of bodies at ILB.  They let Bellore walk and already had Chris Young and Mario Harvey (4.46/260lb ST'er from Marshall), they  added Joe Mays, Jamari Lattimore, Erin Henderson and then Taiwan Jones as an UDFA.  Should be a good competition. 

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papz187

papz187

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This regime just gave Harris $15M guaranteed over the next two years. If they thought Harris was too slow and planned to replace him they would probably have let him test the market.

The added a bunch of bodies at ILB. They let Bellore walk and already had Chris Young and Mario Harvey (4.46/260lb ST'er from Marshall), they added Joe Mays, Jamari Lattimore, Erin Henderson and then Taiwan Jones as an UDFA. Should be a good competition.

I didn't realize they let Bellore walk this offseason. He was very good on Special Teams. Hopefully one of the new guys can step in and fill his role. I feel Special Teams will be key to our success this year like it was in 09 and 10.....I'm hoping for solid progress in this department.

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#27TheDominator

#27TheDominator

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I didn't realize they let Bellore walk this offseason. He was very good on Special Teams. Hopefully one of the new guys can step in and fill his role. I feel Special Teams will be key to our success this year like it was in 09 and 10.....I'm hoping for solid progress in this department.

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He signed with the Niners, who obviously have a need.

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Il Mostro

Il Mostro

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Harris is still an excellent downhill run stopper and will start.  Henderson will get plenty of burn as the third ILB though and could take over as a starter in the future.  Plenty of ability.  Getting him a car service is priority #1.

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