BUFFALO, N.Y. (March 30, 2005) -- Bills president Tom Donahoe discounted Travis Henry 's threat to sit out if he's not traded, saying the running back would seriously hurt his career if he missed next season.
In an interview with Sirius NFL Radio, Donahoe said he's still attempting to trade Henry, but added he expects the player to return to Buffalo for the final year of his contract if a deal doesn't materialize.
"I have heard every threat that there is. It's just that time of year where people posture," Donahoe said. "But to take the year off and not play football, that is professional suicide."
Donahoe's comments came after Henry last week said he has no intention of returning to play for Buffalo if the team fails to trade him.
The Bills' starter since his rookie season in 2001, Henry is upset after losing the No. 1 job to Willis McGahee last October.
Henry's agent, Hadley Engelhard, declined comment.
Engelhard, who has the Bills' permission to discuss potential trades for his client with other teams, has said the Arizona Cardinals are prepared to send to Buffalo starting left tackle L.J. Shelton in a one-for-one deal. Donahoe denied that, saying the Cardinals want more, which is unacceptable for the Bills.
"Arizona understands our position and we understand theirs," Donahoe said. "So probably, unless somebody wants to blink, it's probably not going to get done."
Donahoe held out hope the deal could be revisited closer to next month's NFL draft.
"We will keep the door open and will continue to look because that is probably the fair thing to do," Donahoe said.
The Bills could use Shelton to bolster their offensive line, which lost three players to free agency, including starting left tackle Jonas Jennings, who signed with San Francisco. Arizona is in need of a proven running back after Emmitt Smith retired in February, while backup Troy Hambrick is recovering from a foot injury that forced him out of the last six weeks of last season.
Henry, a former second-round pick, had consecutive 1,300-yard seasons in 2002-03 before being demoted last season. An ankle injury forced Henry to miss the final five games of 2004.
