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Seantrel Henderson

2017 Proven Performance Escalators

January 17th, 2017 at 6:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time cumulatively during that period.Donte Moncrief (Vertical)

If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s lowest restricted free agent tender — that figure should be around $1.8MM in 2017. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.

Here are the players who will see their salary rise in 2017 courtesy of the proven performance escalator:

49ers: Aaron Lynch, LB; Marcus Martin, OL

Bears: Charles Leno, T; Will Sutton, DT

Bengals: Russell Bodine, C

Bills: Preston Brown, LB; Seantrel Henderson, T

Broncos: Michael Schofield, OL

Browns: Christian Kirksey, LB

Buccaneers: Kevin Pamphile, G

Cardinals: John Brown, WR

Chiefs: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, G; Zach Fulton, G; Phillip Gaines, CB

Colts: Donte Moncrief, WR

Cowboys: Anthony Hitchens, LB

Falcons: Devonta Freeman, RB

Giants: Devon Kennard, LB

Jaguars: Aaron Colvin, CB; Brandon Linder, G; Telvin Smith, LB

Lions: Nevin Lawson, CB; Travis Swanson, C

Packers: Corey Linsley, C; Richard Rodgers, TE

Panthers: Tre Boston, S; Trai Turner, G

Raiders: T.J. Carrie, CB; Justin Ellis, DT; Gabe Jackson, G

Rams: Maurice Alexander, S; E.J. Gaines, CB

Redskins: Bashaud Breeland, CB; Spencer Long, G; Morgan Moses, T

Texans: C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE; Andre Hal, S

Titans: DaQuan Jones, DL; Avery Williamson, LB

Vikings: Shamar Stephen, DT

Bills Notes: Henderson, Watkins, Lewis

November 30th, 2016 at 7:56pm CST by Zachary Links

Bills head coach Rex Ryan says he told offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson that while the club supports him, every player must abide with the rules of the NFL, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Henderson, of course, was handed a 10-game suspension earlier this week following a second positive test for marijuana. Ryan, though, calls Henderson a “unique circumstance” given that he may have been using marijuana to treat his Crohn’s disease. Given Ryan’s supportive words and Henderson’s cheap salary for 2017, it’s a good bet that he’ll return to the team next year despite his latest setback.

Here’s more from Buffalo:

  • Ryan also told the media that wide receiver Dezmin Lewis, activated from the practice squad this week, “has to poop or get off the pot,” (Twitter link via Rodak). Lewis, a seventh round pick in 2015, has shown flashes of ability but has yet to truly break out. Reading between the lines, Rodak feels that Buffalo is giving him one last shot to get it all together. If he doesn’t, he could be dropped from the Bills’ 53-man roster and left without an invitation to join their practice squad.
  • Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins did not practice today because of his ailing foot, as Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News tweets. Watkins, who returned on Sunday to post three receptions for 80 yards, was expected to be limited during the workout, but him not practicing at all could be an indication that his status for this weekend is in doubt.
  • Earlier today, the Bills signed offensive lineman Isame Faciame to their practice squad.

Bills’ Henderson Handed 10-Game Suspension

November 29th, 2016 at 12:52pm CST by Zachary Links

Seantrel Henderson‘s season is over. The offensive lineman has been hit with a ten-game ban, the team announced. Seantrel Henderson

Henderson violated the NFL’s Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. He appealed the decision, but it appears that his bid to 86 the suspension was denied. Henderson has been treating his Crohn’s disease with marijuana and he likely appealed on the basis that he was using the drug as medication, not for recreational purposes. There has been a movement to allow marijuana use for NFL players, but the rules will not change until the offseason, at the earliest. Any changes to the drug policy must be made through the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, of course, that must be hammered out between the league and the NFLPA.

Henderson already served a four-game suspension at the start of this season for a similar violation. Now entrenched in the program, Henderson is subject to additional tests and increased penalties when he fails. Therefore, the newest ban will span ten games, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2016 regular season and possibly bleeding into 2017.

Henderson remains under club control for the 2017 season, the last year of his rookie contract. He will count just over $700K against the cap, so there is a good chance Buffalo will keep him around.

Seantrel Henderson Faces 10-Game Ban

November 27th, 2016 at 8:55am CST by Rory Parks

We heard several days ago that Bills offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson was facing another suspension, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports today that Henderson is looking at a 10-game ban for violating the NFL’s Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. Henderson is appealing the ruling, and the appeal will be resolved sometime this week. If he is unsuccessful, he has not ruled out litigation to get back on the field.

Seantrel Henderson (vertical)

Henderson’s battles with Crohn’s disease represent something of a microcosm of the league-wide dilemma concerning medical marijuana use. The 24-year-old Miami product uses marijuana to deal with the pain resulting from the illness and two intestinal surgeries, and one of Rapoport’s sources has said that Henderson “needs cannabis. You can’t take pain killers with the way his intestines are.”

Henderson already served a four-game suspension at the start of this season for a similar violation. Although his marijuana use dates back to his collegiate days, he insists he now utilizes marijuana only to treat his disease. But until the NFL softens its stance on marijuana, it appears as if Henderson will be stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Henderson has played in only one game this year after starting in all 26 appearances during his first two seasons, including 16 as a rookie. Thanks in part to his health issues, Henderson lost the Bills’ No. 1 right tackle job to Jordan Mills. However, his upside remains considerable, and as Rapoport writes, Henderson was a topic of trade discussions right before this year’s deadline. Teams like as the Vikings and Seahawks needed tackles, and Henderson was the top starter-quality player available at his position. Opposing clubs, though, were unable to meet the Bills’ asking price, and Buffalo opted to hold onto its embattled swing tackle.

Henderson remains under club control for the 2017 season, the last year of his rookie contract. He will count just over $700K against the cap, so there is a good chance Buffalo will keep him around even if the suspension stands.

Suspension Looming For Seantrel Henderson?

November 24th, 2016 at 5:32pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Bills right tackle Seantrel Henderson served a four-game suspension to begin the season because of a violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Now, a month and a half after the Bills activated Henderson, another ban is imminent for the third-year man, reports Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News.

Seantrel Henderson

Henderson’s previous suspension resulted from medicinal marijuana use, and that’s likely to be the case again this time. The 24-year-old has been using it to treat Crohn’s disease, which he was diagnosed with last year, but the league hasn’t been sympathetic.

“I’ve got doctors telling me this is the No. 1 medicine that would help your disease,” Henderson said last month, according to Skurski. “You try to tell that to the league and it seems like they didn’t care too much.”

While Henderson’s marijuana use dates back to his time at the University of Miami (one reason he fell to the seventh round of the 2014 draft), he insists he now utilizes it only to treat his disease.

“I hadn’t even been thinking about marijuana until it was brought up to me by a doctor,” he said. “Since I’ve been in the league, I’ve been in the program. I got drug tested three times a week. There’s no recreational use. There’s none of that.”

Unfortunately for Henderson, even though the majority of states – including New York – allow some sort of medical marijuana use, it doesn’t appear the league is willing to soften its stance. However, various executives around the sport are pushing for less draconian measures.

Henderson has played in only one game this year after starting in all 26 appearances during his first two seasons – including 16 as a rookie. Thanks in part to his health issues, Henderson lost the Bills’ No. 1 right tackle job to Jordan Mills.

Bills Notes: Watkins, Wood, Henderson

November 14th, 2016 at 10:55am CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a quick look at the Bills:

  • Bills coach Rex Ryan says he spoke to Sammy Watkins today and Watkins says he felt “fantastic.” However, trainers are not yet clearing Watkins to practice (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com). The Bills placed Watkins on IR in September but got some good news when they learned that he could avoid surgery, leaving the door open for a late-season return. The wide receiver could potentially return as soon for Week 12, but doctors will first have to give him the go-ahead.
  • Meanwhile, Ryan has yet to discuss whether Eric Wood will be placed on injured reserve with GM Doug Whaley (Twitter link). Wood expressed hope last week that he could return if the Bills make the playoffs. However, the Bills may prefer to have his 53-man roster spot, particularly at a time when the playoffs are no sure thing for Buffalo. After a four-game winning streak, the Bills have now dropped three in a row, putting them at 4-5.
  • Seantrel Henderson, who has been on shaky ground with the Bills organization, could once again find his way to the starting lineup. Ryan told reporters, including Joe Buscaglia of WKBW (on Twitter) that Henderson will be given an opportunity this week after his strong showing on Sunday. Buscaglia (Twitter link) inferred that Jordan Mills‘ starting job could now be in jeopardy with the likely elevation of Henderson. started all 16 games in his rookie season in Buffalo, and had started ten games for the team in 2015 before he was sidelined with Crohn’s. This offseason, Henderson was MIA for a while before returning to the team in the summer. Shortly after coming back, he was hit with a four-game suspension for marijuana use. The former seventh-round pick carries a ~$471K cap number this year and ~$703K in 2017. If Henderson can avoid off-the-field trouble, he could prove to be a remarkable value for Buffalo through next season.

Bills Activate Seantrel Henderson

October 10th, 2016 at 4:40pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bills announced that they have activated offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson. To make room, safety Colt Anderson has been placed on injured reserve. Seantrel Henderson (vertical)

Henderson was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The tackle started all 16 games in his rookie season in Buffalo, and had started ten games for the team in 2015 before he was sidelined with Crohn’s. In May, head coach Rex Ryan and some of Henderson’s teammates indicated that they had not heard from him in some time.

This offseason, there were also rumblings that Henderson’s heart wasn’t in playing football and some teammates indicated that he had a problem with marijuana. The 24-year-old now has a chance to silence his critics as he joins the Bills this week.

Anderson suffered an arm injury in Buffalo’s 30-19 victory over the Rams. After spending the first six years of his career with the Eagles and Colts, Anderson joined Buffalo this offseason to beef up their special teams unit. He’ll be eligible for free agency after the season.

The Bills host the Niners on Sunday.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

14 Players Returning From Suspension

October 3rd, 2016 at 7:06pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Fourteen players will return from four-game suspensions this week, according to Howard Balzer (Twitter links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). The most high-profile returnee, of course, is quarterback Tom Brady, who will re-join the 3-1 Patriots on Sunday against the Browns.

The following players have completed their suspensions:

The club that employs each player will receive a short roster exemption that ends the day following the team’s Week 5 game. that means the 49ers’ exemption for Lynch ends Friday, the Panthers’ exemption for Scott ends next Tuesday, and the rest end next Monday.

Sterup, meanwhile, was on the Chiefs’ practice squad when he was banned, but he hasn’t completed the PED reinstatement requirements, according to Balzer. So although he can sign with a new club, Sterup can’t practice or play until he’s approved by the league.

Extra Points: Gronk, Rodgers, Sproles, Bills

September 9th, 2016 at 8:17pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury, did not accompany the Patriots on their trip to Arizona on Friday, reports Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal (Twitter link). That means Gronkowski will not play Sunday against the Cardinals, according to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com (via Twitter). Gronkowski’s absence will leave New England’s offense without its two best players (quarterback Tom Brady is suspended) as the Jimmy Garoppolo-led club goes on the road to face one of the NFL’s premier teams.

More from around the league as the first Sunday of the regular season draws closer:

  • Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, 32, would like his playing career to last until at least age 40, he told Pete Dougherty of USA Today. “I think it’s more realistic now than it was when I first started playing,” the eight-year veteran said of achieving his goal. “The way the (practice) schedule is now, training camp, the research on nutrition. I think it is possible to play and play well into your 40s.” Only three QBs – Packers legend Brett Favre, Hall of Famer Warren Moon and Vinny Testaverde – have started at least 10 games in their 40s since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, notes Dougherty. Aside from Rodgers, fellow current signal-callers Brady and Drew Brees have also expressed a desire to last that long. As a 39-year-old (40 next August), Brady looks like a shoo-in to accomplish that goal.
  • The Eagles’ Darren Sproles will act as more of a receiver than a running back this year, writes Paul Domowitch of Philly.com. Sproles led all running backs in receptions (232) from 2011-13 as a member of the Saints, but he wasn’t as involved in the Eagles’ passing game under now-former head coach Chip Kelly the previous two seasons. Sproles still caught 95 balls, including 55 last year, while combining for 140 carries. As a runner, he’s unlikely to approach last year’s 83-attempt mark in new head coach Doug Pederson‘s offense, per Domowitch, with Ryan Mathews and Kenjon Barner set to receive the bulk of the work. For his part, Sproles is content with taking on more of a pass-catching role. “They’re playing to my strengths,” he said. “I really like this offense.”
  • Brian Fettner, the agent for the Bills‘ Seantrel Henderson, explained Friday why he and his client dropped their appeal of the right tackle’s four-game suspension for marijuana use. Fettner stated (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter): “Merciful or not, there is no medical exception that the NFL will accept. It doesn’t matter that Seantrel is battling Crohn’s disease, and has had his intestines outside his body. It doesn’t matter how you take it, if you digest the cannabis, that’s it. And they don’t care. So you can appeal and lose, and push it back, or you can get it over with. Per the negotiated letter of law, it seems like a futile appeal. We don’t want to waste anyone’s time. We want Seantrel back as soon as possible.”

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Bills’ Seantrel Henderson Suspended

September 7th, 2016 at 9:36am CST by Zachary Links

As if the Bills didn’t have enough suspensions. Offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson has been hit with a four-game ban, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Bills have confirmed the news via press release. Henderson’s pending substance-abuse suspension is related to a treatment he received for his Crohn’s disease and he is therefore appealing, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. "<strong

[RELATED: Bills Sign Brandon Tate]

Henderson started all 16 games in his rookie season in Buffalo, and had started 10 games for the team in 2015 before he was sidelined with Crohn’s. In May, head coach Rex Ryan and some of Henderson’s teammates indicated that they had not heard from him in some time. There were also rumblings that Henderson’s heart wasn’t in playing football and some teammates indicated that he had a problem with marijuana. The Bills were able to draft Henderson in the seventh round of the 2014 draft in part because of his multiple failed drug tests at the University of Miami. He also reportedly tested positive for marijuana at the scouting combine.

This is the Bills’ third substance-abuse policy suspension this year, which could result in the NFL fining the club under remittance policy, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com notes (on Twitter). Earlier this year, the Bills also saw defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and linebacker Manny Lawson hit with suspensions from the league office. Lawson has since been released.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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