MLB: Drew Henson takes the money and runs

Drew Henson quit on his coach, Lloyd Carr, and his University of Michigan teammates to pursue the money a baseball career would give him. If I sound like a bitter Wolverine fan, I am. Besides being disappointed and unhappy about losing the starting quarterback of a team that had tremendous potential, I really don't understand it.

Sure, the lure of $17 million over six years is tough to pass up. But if Henson realized his potential in baseball or football, he could have made much more money than this. Three million or so a in Major League Baseball is chump change made by average infielders and below average left handed pitchers. Ryan Leaf signed about a $30 million contract, and Tim Couch signed for over $40 million. If Henson plays like he is capable of, he could sign for $40 million or more with a signing bonus coming close to the total amount he signed for with the New York Yankees.

Even if he happens to get hurt at Michigan playing football, an insurance policy with Lloyds of London could cover some of the salary he would have made. Plus, he could have had a college degree.

Perhaps Henson just enjoys the game of baseball more than playing football. Then why did he say he wanted to play quarterback at U of M? Did he tell his teammates that if the right amount of money came along, he would leave the program as fast as he could? What price can you put on playing in front of over 100,000 fans who cheer for you as you come out of the tunnel and touch the Michigan banner? How much is it worth to always have that bond with the team you were the quarterback of and the memories of your senior year with them?

The Heisman Trophy was in his reach if he had a great year, or perhaps playing in a major bowl game possibly winning the national championship. The national championship may just be wishful thinking on my part, but the other things I mentioned were certainly true.

Drew Henson said he had to leave Michigan now because the money would not be there next year. George Steinbrenner must have really been on top of his negotiating game to have Henson and his dad believe that. Henson could have had an even greater chance of making more money by coming back to football this year. Do you really think Steinbrenner would let this kid go if he thinks Henson is the Yankee third baseman of the future? Steinbrenner had all the leverage, throwing millions of dollars in a young man's face and saying it won't be there next year.

I believe that and more would have been there if Henson would have played football. Henson could have had a bidding war between the Yankees and the NFL team that drafted him or were going to draft him. Instead, Steinbrenner got him for several years at a price many baseball players get per year.

The bottom line is that Steinbrenner and his money won out again, as usual. I'm sure that Steinbrenner, being an Ohio State fan, found it even more advantageous to sign the starting quarterback of his hated rival so Henson could not beat the Buckeyes again. Somehow the Yankees always seem to get what they want. I guess, as a U of M fan, I can only hope that Drew Henson pulls a Chris Weinke and uses his final year of eligibility at Michigan to win the Heisman Trophy and lead the Wolverines to a national championship game, which is highly unlikely. All I can say is, "Good luck Drew, and I hope the money makes you happy."