A predicament difficult to conceive of

I hope Travis Henry isn’t counting on a boatload of sympathy.

Nine kids. Nine different mothers. Nine demands for child support.

“They’ve got my blood; I’ve got to deal with it,” the former NFL running back told The New York Times — from Denver where, until recently, “he was under house arrest until recently for the drug matter.”

Now 30, Henry conceived his first child while he was a high-schooler. “I’m like, ‘Whoa, I’m going to be a dad,’ ” Henry recalled.

Guess what, Travis: Being the biological father doesn’t make you a dad though, unfortunately for you, it does make you financially liable.

Not surprisingly, Henry blames the mothers of his children. Seems as though they convinced Henry protection wasn’t necessary — and no, I’m not talking about pass blocking.

“My counselor asks me, ‘How can you do the same thing over and over?’ ” he told The Times.

“Knock on wood, or something, I’m blessed not to have AIDS. That never crossed my mind.”

I'm guessing there are many, many things that never cross your mind.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/sports/football/12henry.html?_r=1&ref=football

Yeah — that's clearing your name

OK. So you’re running back Travis Henry.

Last year, released by the Tennessee Titans, you were signed by the Denver Broncos, who stick with you despite a positive test for marijuana.

Claiming to be a victim of secondhand smoke, you appeal your NFL suspension and actually win it (though you remain in the league substance-abuse program) and are allowed to play.

In February this year you tell Bronco fans, "I want to be a Bronco and make it all right. I don't want to be anywhere else. I owe those people something for all that happened last year. I want to clear my name there.”

Then you do something to anger coach Mike Shanahan enough that he flat-out cuts you in June, saying, "We did not feel his commitment to the Broncos was enough to warrant a spot on this football team. He’s just too inconsistent as a person.”

Inconsistent? Au contraire.

For in July it’s revealed you again tested positive for pot, which means a year’s suspension. Now on the last day of September you’re arrested by the feds for your alleged role in a cocaine deal?

Smooth move, Travis.

Actually, it has one advantage. Henry reportedly has fathered nine kids by nine different women, and therefore has serious child-support payment problems. I mean, you don’t have to pay child support if you’re in prison, do you? And even if you do, if you can’t pay it, where are they doing to do? Put you in prison?

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-henry1001,0,6985906.story