Who will be the Next 1,000-yard Rusher?

Mike Shanahan and the Denver Broncos released Travis Henry, their starting running back and leading rusher from last year, on Monday.

He lasted only one season, not exactly what Bronco fans were hoping for. Not only was Henry somewhat injury prone, he also had many off-field issues. Just like many NFL players these days, Henry was not exactly a perfect role model for our current generation of kids, including his own.

Henry had nine children with nine different women. He has definitely been around the block a few times. He also tested positive for marijuana during the 2007 season but won in an appeal with the NFL. Although Shanahan did defend and support him during the appeal, it still adds to the fact that he is just a bad apple.

Henry was a talented player; in three of the first four games last season he had at least 128 yards per game and led the league in rushing at one point. However, after the injury (including a torn ligament in his right knee early in the 2007 season) and drug test failure, he never gained more than 65 rushing yards in any game and only had four carries in the last two games. Despite the talent, Shanahan couldn’t handle all the baggage that came with it.

Shanahan said, “(He’s) just too inconsistent as a person, and if you’re inconsistent as a person you’re usually not going to win championships,” according to the Rocky Mountain News.

It was definitely a cut that was more about off-field personality than play. Shanahan is cleaning up the club house and, in my opinion, weeding out the sour studs. The Broncos also let go Javon Walker, who was a ME guy and overpaid, and Ian Gold this season. He wants players that want to win a championship, like he does.
So what’s the answer at running back for the Broncos? They did sign a free-agent to a one-year deal that has 11 years under his belt in Michael Pittman, and they have Selvin Young going into his sophomore season.
Shanahan said, “We’ve got a lot of talent. I’m excited about the people we have,” according to the Rocky.

Where to start on Pittman? He is very experienced; he’s played in a championship game with Tampa Bay. Pittman’s a tough and durable guy but turns 33 in August. According to the AP he has off-field problems
too. Three different times has been picked up by police for domesticated violence in 1997, 2001 and 2003. So if Shanahan wants to get rid of problem-players I don’t really understand this pick up.

Michael Pittman also only had 286 yards last season and zero touchdowns.

I predict the Broncos starter and main work horse to be Selvin Young. He is a talented second-year player who ended up with 729 yards and one touchdown a year ago. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry
and can catch the ball well out of the backfield. He’s also bulked up in the off-season and set a goal of reaching 2,000 yards this season.

Young was not drafted and went to the Broncos on somewhat of a whim, but has really turned out to be quite talented. Out of the 18 backs that were drafted in 2007 Selvin Young outrushed all but five of them. His health has been questionable over the years and is the one negative thing to say about him. I think Young will deserve the starting position and Shanahan will reward his hard work.

Other backs competing for the job are Andre Hall, who played very little last year, and a rookie out of Arizona State named Ryan Torain.

Hall is unproven, and Torain missed six college games last year. Torain could do well in the Bronco’s system with good size and power. We’ll just have to wait and see on these two guys.

Overall, releasing Henry was a good decision by Shanahan and hopefully his next good decision will be giving Selvin Young the ball.