The next three years are going to make two-a-days look easy to Travis Henry.
The former NFL running back was sentenced to three years in prison after financing a drug ring that trafficked cocaine between Colorado and Montana. Last
October, after he was released by the Broncos, he was arrested by
federal drug agents, and in April, he pleaded guilty to one count of
conspiracy to traffic cocaine. He was sentenced on Wednesday.
Henry also received five years of probation, but if he completes a
500-hour drug treatment program, he could serve as little as 16 months
in the slammer. Henry could have incurred a $4 million fine, but
federal judge Richard Cebull waived it because Henry could not afford
it.
Henry claims he turned to drug trafficking as a means to pay child
support for his nine children with nine different women, but Cebull
didn’t buy it; he said the player’s marijuana addiction led him down
his dark path.
Whichever the case, Henry is regretful of where that path has ended.
“If given the chance, I want to tell kids around the world that using drugs and abusing drugs isn’t the way,” he said.
The former Tennessee standout was drafted by the Broncos in 2001 and
signed a four-year, $22.5 million deal with Denver in 2007, but just
one season in, he was cut because of drug allegations. That’s when he
allegedly turned to drugs to pay the bills.
A driver who transported drugs for Henry was arrested in September
and agreed to become a federal informant, which helped authorities set
up a sting operation to catch Henry. He was caught with six kilograms
of cocaine.
In seven NFL seasons, Henry played in 89 games, rushing for 6,086
yards and 38 touchdowns. His best season came in 2002, when he
registered 13 touchdowns and 1,438 yards.
