Denver Bronco’s running back Travis Henry is scheduled to have a hearing today in Phoenix, Arizona, pertaining to his testing positive for marijuana earlier in the season. With the recent controversy swarming the NFL, this character epitomizes everything that is wrong with the image of the league.

Henry faces a likely one-year suspension from the NFL after a previous four-game punishment for a similar offense. At the same time, he is suing the NFL in an attempt to prevent the league from using the results of the original test in the hearing. This move shows desperation on Henry’s part.

The impact of these events on the overall image of the NFL does not lie solely on the outcome of the upcoming hearing. The lack of responsibility surrounding the issue is what seems most disturbing.

The Denver Broncos signed Henry after knowledge of his previous offense. Coach Mike Shanahan has unwaveringly stood by his free-agent pick-up, even forcing him to take a lie-detector test and several hair samples to prove his innocence.

But as the team’s coach, Shanahan himself should be held to a certain level of scrutiny. After an annual meeting in March, he claimed, “[Henry] knows if he screws up, he’s gone. Sometimes that’s better than a guy who’s only got one strike.”

Shanahan may be forced to swallow his words, as the earliest decision on Henry’s status will be made Nov. 20. This is an opportunity for Shanahan to put his foot down on the issue and discipline his player. Instead, Henry will remain active until his likely suspension begins.

It is difficult for anyone to pity Henry. As a man with nine children from nine different women, who does not pay child support even after signing a $22.5 million contract, he does not elicit much sympathy.

It is hard to imagine any team signing Henry in the future, given his spotty record and the likely yearlong suspension he faces.