Mandatory Photo Credit: ©Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK / ©Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
BALTIMORE — Derrick Henry has a message for anyone who still doubts him.
And just three questions into his introductory press conference, the newly-minted Ravens running back addressed the haters.
“Tell them to keep watching,” Henry said, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. “People always going to have something to say — always going to have opinions. I’m just ready to work, ready to get things started and do my best to help this organization.”
One of the NFL’s most dominant runners over the past decade, Henry officially inked a two-year, $16 million contract with the Ravens.
“It really was a no-brainer for me,” the newest Raven said. “This is where I knew I wanted to be. I love the style, the physicality that they play with on all three phases. I feel like it fits my style of play as well.”
Henry finished with over 1,100 yards rushing and double-digit touchdowns last season, but turned 30 in January — an age when running backs notoriously decline in play.
But Henry is clearly not concerned. And neither are the Baltimore Ravens.
“He’s kind of a unicorn, to be honest,” general manager Eric DeCosta said. “It’s a combination of speed, power, durability.
“Those kind of guys are rare. We’ve had some here in Baltimore. They’re just different from everybody else, and I think Derrick’s a good example of that.”
DeCosta said the Ravens tried to acquire Henry before last year’s trade deadline, but the deal fell through.
“When you evaluate the tape, you watch the player, you see the history of the player, you talk to people who have been around the player, it made all the sense in the world for us to target Derrick,” DeCosta said.
It all smiles for the Ravens right now. And while there surely glistening over their shiny new toy – they will desperatly need better results in the playoffs
