OTL: Henry Really Was Almost a Raven Last Trade Deadline

Anyone remember those rumblings last season that Derrick Henry almost became a Baltimore Raven as the trade deadline neared? RSR’s own Cole Jackson (along with Spencer Schultz of the Exit 52 podcast) was all over this, and told us as much on X.

Per sources, the #Ravens and Titans had a deal in place for Henry.

That deal was vetoed by the Titans owner.#RavensFlock https://t.co/Ng5NO7ol44

— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) October 30, 2023

Cole & Spencer were dragged over the coals by a large section of the fanbase, saying they made it up for engagement. Oops.

Told you so. pic.twitter.com/2woTjN7KhY

— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) July 18, 2024

All those folks have egg on their face since Dan Pompei’s article in The Athletic came out yesterday confirming that rumor.

DeCosta agreed to the framework of a trade with Tennessee general manager Ran Carthon — a fourth-round pick that could have become a third had Henry reached certain production levels. However, others in the Titans hierarchy apparently were not on board with the deal, so Henry played out the season in Nashville.

Now we get to drive ourselves insane wondering “What If,” the Ravens had Henry for that AFC Championship game.

Sticking with things that make us sad, though at a whole other level, I was going through Jacoby Jones pictures in the RSR archives and came across this.

I can’t remember why we made it, exactly. Just something fun to do, probably. Because Jacoby was nothing if not fun. We still can’t believe he’s gone so soon.

As we continue to mourn the untimely loss of Jones, the tributes and memories continue to pour in from former teammates and coaches.

Former Ravens fullback Vonta Leach joined Glenn Clark’s show earlier this week, where he gushed about the kind of person and fellow football player he was.

“Jacoby was the show,” Leach said on Glenn Clark Radio July 15. “The last time we were all together for the [AFC championship game in January], and me and Jacoby had some appearances together. Man, Jacoby lit up a room. He’s going to do his move, he’s going to do his dance, he’s going to do his talk. Everybody just loved Jacoby. Jacoby was Baltimore.”

Leach also shared his memory from Denver in January of 2013, when he went from sitting on the sideline dejected to suddenly realizing he miraculously had more football to play. Thanks, of course to the Mile High Miracle.

“I was sitting on the bench. It’s late in the game. I was like, ‘Holy shit, did we really just do that? Did we really just score? Oh, my god. We may have a chance,’” Leach said. “… It’s probably one of the top three [or] four plays in the Ravens’ history, and Jacoby’s got like two of them.”

Current Houston Texans head coach Demeco Ryans was also a teammate of Jones’, in Houston from 2007-11. Ryans had this to say, via former Ravens beat reporter Aaron Wilson, currently in Houston.

#Texans coach DeMeco Ryans’ warm remembrance of his late former teammate Jacoby Jones @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/O9Aqouqs1i

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) July 18, 2024

“Jacoby was a teammate of mine here for five years. When you talk about a guy who was fun spirited, loving, caring, great teammate, the dance machine, he was a fun guy to be around.

“He lit up any room that he walked into just with his great spirit. He’ll be truly missed. I was very saddened to hear the news of him passing. Just truly feel sorry for the family and for all of his teammates, all the lives that he has touched. Jacoby, I remember he always did a great job of working in camps and working with kids. He always did an excellent job of doing that. He’ll be missed.”

It still feels like a bad dream. Jacoby can’t really be gone so soon, can he?

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