Henson showcases football skills for scouts at Texas

HOUSTON -- Drew Henson tried to show NFL scouts Thursday he can hit a receiver better than he could hit a curveball.\nRepresentatives from 20 teams gathered at the Houston Texans' practice bubble to watch the former Michigan quarterback throw about 75 passes.\n"I felt good," said Henson, a third base prospect for the New York Yankees until his release last week. "I threw as good as I could have hoped today."\nSaid Miami Dolphins general manager Rick Spielman: "He had an extremely good workout. He showed very good arm strength, and he was very accurate with all of his throws."\nHenson last played football in the 2001 Citrus Bowl. The Texans, who have a young quarterback in David Carr, took Henson in the sixth round of last year's draft and are trying to trade his rights.\nA deal can't happen until March 4 under NFL rules. And if there's no trade before the April 24 draft, he goes back into the hopper, where he's been projected as a late first-round pick.\nHenson's workout came near Reliant Stadium, where the quarterback he once backed up at Michigan -- Tom Brady -- was the Super Bowl MVP two weeks ago.\nHead coaches Mike Sherman of Green Bay and Mike Mularkey of Buffalo were in attendance. So was Houston-area resident Roger Clemens, one of Henson's former Yankees teammates.\nHenson never developed into the star the Yankees projected when they lured him from football with a $17 million, six-year deal in 2001.\nThe Texans scheduled this audition -- a day before his 24th birthday -- after Henson agreed to forgo $12 million remaining on his baseball deal.\nThe Bills were the most conspicuous presence, sending Mularkey, general manager Tom Donahoe and new quarterback coach Sam Wyche.\n"You don't make any final decisions on these, you can only eliminate guys," Wyche said. "I don't think anyone eliminated him today."\nTexans general manager Charley Casserly won't say what the Texans want him, although a first-round pick isn't considered out of the question. Besides the Bills, the Packers, Kansas City, Miami and the New York Giants are considered prominent suitors.\nMost teams sent scouts or assistant coaches. Giants GM Ernie Accorsi watched the workout.\nHenson threw everything from little squareouts to 60-yard fly patterns. Henson threw to four receivers, including free agents Sylvester Morris and Joel Makovicka, themselves hoping to impress teams.\n"After this, Drew, myself and (agent) Tom Condon will sit down, find out who's interested," Casserly said. "We'll start talking about contract, which will involve Tom Condon, and we'll talk trade, which would be myself."\nUnder rookie contract rules, the most he can make initially is $238,000. However, Casserly and Condon believe Henson and a team could use some creativity to earn him a larger package.\nHenson hit .234 with 14 home runs, 40 doubles and 78 RBIs for Triple-A Columbus last season. He struck out 122 times and made 22 errors.\nIn a six-year minor league career that began on a Yankees rookie league team in 1998 and spanned 501 games, Henson hit .248 with 67 homers, 274 RBIs and 556 strikeouts. During that span, the Yankees traded him to Cincinnati and reacquired him from the Reds.\nHenson was 1 for 9 and scored three runs for New York. He was a September callup by the Yankees in 2002 and 2003.\nHenson left Michigan before his senior season. As a junior, he completed 146 of 237 passes for 2,146 yards. He had 18 touchdowns and four interceptions.\nNew York Jets offensive assistant Dick Curl acknowledged some teams watched the workout mainly to scout a future opponent. He was aware that two AFC East rivals -- Miami and Buffalo -- could have Henson next season.\n"In this profession, you have to do your homework because you never know what's going to happen," Curl said.