Eagles: Derrick Henry trade nearly happened, if not for NFL TV personality
The Eagles could have had an NFL superstar, but a TV personality got ahead of the blockbuster deal.
The Philadelphia Eagles could have had Derrick Henry in their backfield if not for Akbar Gbajabiamila, an ex-NFL defensive end and CBS Sports host.
If you remember, Gbajabiamila was the originator of the trade rumors, and he recently has come out to defend his initial report, claiming the deal was as good as done until he came out and said so on air.
Yes, you read that right.
“I had a very, very credible source and I do believe that I actually messed up this trade because (the information) wasn’t supposed to come out,” the American Ninja Warrior star Gbajabiamila said as he appeared on The Rich Eisen Show, firmly insisting his reporting was accurate.
"This could have happened,'' he added, "but I think because I got ahead of it and it just blew up. I blew up the scene.”
Next, Gbajabiamila blamed naivety and some wild belief that he thought no one would care what he had to say.
“I didn’t realize that a) anybody would be paying attention, and b) I didn’t think that I wasn’t supposed to say it. So, I just said, ‘Hey, let me go ahead,'' he said.
And though the trade didn't happen, and instead of walking back his claims, Gbajabiamila appears to have doubled down, he still holds out that Henry, who remained on the Tennessee Titans, could have been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles if Howie Roseman pulled the trigger following the Twitter rumors swelling.
“Let me tell you something,'' Gbajabiamila said. "(GM) Howie Roseman could have made it happen. We saw what he did with Jalen Hurts. He made that work. You saw what he did with A.J. Brown. He made that work."
If we are being honest, it is hard to believe that one person could stop two NFL teams from striking a deal. So, I doubt that the Henry trade falling through really falls on Gbajabiamila's shoulders at all.
That is enough humblebragging for one day.
Feature image via Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
