How Derrick Henry Turned His Baltimore Ravens Signing into a Prank On Marlon Humphrey
Derrick Henry has yet to take a snap in a Baltimore Ravens uniform, but he's already proving his elusiveness.
Past and present teammate Marlon Humphrey, who previously worked with Baltimore's new running back at the University of Alabama, offered his reaction the to process of hiring Henry on the latest episode of his "Punch Line Podcast." Upon being told the Ravens were making a move for "The King," Humphrey immediately offered his recruitment services to general manager Eric DeCosta, who surprisingly told him to stand down and let things play out.
"I'm like 'I can hit him up,' I'm like 'I can do what I do.' (DeCosta) was like 'No,'" Humphrey recalled with a laugh. "He was basically like 'Do not mess up what I'm doing. Do not do that.'"
DeCosta didn't bar Humphrey from "casual" conversation, even if the cornerback could hardly help himself from Henry's hints, particularly when it appeared that he was learning toward the Dallas Cowboys' advances.
"I just (had) to open myself up some so he'll possibly spill the beans," Humphrey said, recalling what he said to Henry. "'Man, bro, I ain't going to lie, I low key always wanted to play for the Cowboys at one point' and he was like 'yeah, man, that'd be nice.' I'm like, bro, this is when you say like I'm actually talking to your team right now!' I'm like throwing everything out there, I'm like dang, (DeCosta) doesn't know what he's doing."
Henry was perhaps barred for legal reasons, but both he and DeCosta wound up turning the tables on Humphrey by inking a new two-year, $16 million contract shortly after the defender's failed sleuthing. It shocked even Humphrey, who recalled blaring out "Bro!" when the deal was signed.
Baltimore certainly hopes that the second collaboration between Humphrey and Henry goes as well as the first: the two previously starred on Alabama's national championship team from 2015 before both heard their names called early in consecutive drafts: Henry went to the Tennessee Titans immediately after while Humphrey got the call from the Ravens in the ensuing selections' premiere round.