FRISCO – Derrick Henry is presently working out in Dallas. But make no mistake: He does so habitually in his NFL offseason, which in no way connects the two-time NFL rushing champ to the Dallas Cowboys.
But should it? Make no mistake once again: For the last couple of years, folks outside The Star have stirred up rumors about the Cowboys wanting to trade for, sign, pursue, whatever … King Henry.
And it’s never been true. And now we have a team source suggesting to us that the Cowboys’ view there has not changed. Four bullet points …
1- Respect for Henry? Absolutely.
2- Effective even at age 30? He was indeed, as he just ran for 1,167 yards behind a poor offensive line in Tennessee while having played in every game, leading the league in carries. And he closed strong, as his best performance came in the final Titans game, as he rushed for 153 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries – a 8.1-yard rushing average that won him that week’s NFL “ground game” award.
3- Need-filling? Yes. Tony Pollard and his $10 million one-year salary are about to go free. Rico Dowdle is a restricted free agent but could return if the Cowboys see value, and Malik Davis, Snoop Conner, Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke are on the roster. But a true quality back – and a true power back? Needs indeed.