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Coming off his fourth Pro Bowl season with the Tennessee Titans, running back Derrick Henry headed into NFL free agency last offseason. The former Alabama All-American signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens.
A resident of Dallas, Henry didn’t draw the attention of the Cowboys – a sore spot for the team’s fans that only grew sorer as the season progressed.
“I don’t know if he’d be having a career year in our situation,” Dallas owner Jerry Jones said in October in response to the clamber. “We don’t run that type of offense at all. Derrick Henry didn’t fit managing the (salary) cap.”
The Ravens got 1,921 rushing yards – the 11th-highest single-season total in NFL history – as well as a franchise record 18 touchdowns from the league’s seventh-highest-paid running back in 17 regular-season games, plus 270 rushing yards and three touchdowns in two playoff contests.
While Baltimore posted a 12-5 regular-season record, the Cowboys finished at 7-10 after three consecutive seasons of 12 victories annually.