Henderson made the decision to ask for help for his cocaine addiction from the San Fransisco 49ers team doctor; “Im sick, Doc, I got a problem with cocaine. It's eating my nose up. It is keeping my wife up, I can't sleep. I need some profesional help but I don’t know where to go, I don’t know what to do.” He told the team physician. After his visit with the doctor, Henderson alleged that the head coach Bill Walsh stopped talking to him which he said was out of character for their relationship.[1]
Shortly afterward he and a 49ers team front office secretary were caught consuming cocaine while in a house set up with law enforcement surveillance and the secretary lost her job. The 49ers head coach talked to Hendersons spouse who told the coach his drug history over the phone. As a result, Henderson was fired from the team. While eating breakfast on the morning of the next game 49ers director of player personnel John McVay called to let him know he was no longer wanted on the team and had been let go on waivers. Henderson was fired after asking the team doctor for help with his drug addiction.[1]
Henderson wrote in his first book that he used cocaine while playing in Super Bowl 13 against the Pittsburg Steelers. During the third quarter “I walked to the side while we were on offense and took a couple deep belts of my liquid cocaine” [1]The drug use did not apparently effect his play and his team did not notice or could not tell. “I wasn’t aware he was going to the bathroom to snort cocaine or that he had cocaine in a vial on the sideline in super bowl 13. “ Teammate Randy White said in Hendersons second book. [2]
Henderson's Teammate and close friend Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Rodger Staubach spoke in his second book about his teammate's ability to use the media to his advantage through manipulation and domination and that the thirst for media attention backfired and contributed to his decline. “It was all just too big for him.”[3]The former quarterback stressed that Henderson needed to realize he was a member of a team “You don’t create a personality without the proper surroundings and he didn’t grasp that fact.”[3]
Cowboys Teammate Defensive End Harvey Martin noticed a change in the linebacker. “That Season Thomas turned into what I call a creature. He screamed at everybody, teammates and opponents alike.”[4]Henderson got into a fight with his Dallas Cowboys teammate Randy White in the team locker room. He tried to start a fight with him after White threw a playfully fake punch toward his face. [2]In response White was hit and he retaliated by smashing Henderson's face on the floor. The linebacker made another run at the defensive tackle but White just grabbed him and stuffed him into a nearby teammates locker. “Now that I think back I never had a chance in that fight. Here you have one of the strongest men in the history of the NFL(White) and me on crack. That fight wasn't fair.” Henderson wrote in his book upon reflection of the altercation. [2]
His teammates noticed a progressive change in his personality throughout the years. Drew Pearson wrote about his transformation in his memoir; “Henderson was still Thomas at this point(1975). He hadn’t evolved into Hollywood yet."[5] “There were some changes in the way he acted in the way he kept his moods under control.” Tony Dorsett, Cowboys Running back who played with Henderson noted in his book about Henderson's personality change. [6]
Despite his substance abuse and off field issues, his former teammates have always praised his athletic ability and talent. In his book ”Hearing the Noise: My Life in the NFL” former teammate Preston Pearson explained some of the physical traits that contributed to Henderson's talents. A 215 pounder with a large wingspan akin to a person seven feet tall. “Henderson was not just a great football player. He was a great athlete.”[7]
Pearson explained that Henderson was a guest on his show and spoke about his admiration and love for the Dallas Cowboys.With his Dallas Cowboys gold lone star dental filling in his mouth,Henderson expressed how important it was for him to have been a member of the organization[7]Longtime Cowboys teammate and friend; former safety Charlie Waters wrote about Henderson in his book and describes his confidence and strength and a personality Waters describes as engaging. “He could charm the Fangs off a snake.” Henderson’s smile was described by Waters to be infectious.[8]
In the early 1990’s, Henderson built a youth football stadium in his hometown of Austin,Texas. This was at his alma mater Anderson high school. Former and current Dallas Cowboys players and various members of the community also pitched in money for construction. [2]To build a track for the school Henderson also raised money by fasting on the field he helped build. For seven days he slept in a tent near one of the goalposts and only consumed a mixture of lemon juice, molasses, cayenne pepper and water. [2]
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- ^ a b c Henderson, Thomas;, Knobler, Peter (1987). Out of Control: Confessions of an NFL Casualty (1st ed.). New York, New York: Putnum's Sons. p. 212. ISBN 0-399-13264-3.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d e Henderson,T.,, Luska,F. (2004). In Control: The Rebirth of an NFL Legend (1st ed.). Thomas Henderson Publishing. p. 183. ISBN 0-9759890-0-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Staubach,Rodger.,, Luska,Frank. Time Enough to Win (1st ed.). Waco,Texas: World Books. p. 92. ISBN 0-8499-0274-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Martin, Harvey (1986). Texas Thunder (1st ed.). New York: Rawson Associates. p. 127. ISBN 0-89256-312-5.
- ^ Pearson, Drew (2004). Hail Mary: The Drew Pearson Story (1st ed.). Denton,Texas: Zone Press. p. 121. ISBN 0-9727488-2-2.
- ^ Dorsett, Tony (1989). Running Tough: Memoirs of a Football Maverick (1st ed.). Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-26248-5.
- ^ a b Pearson, Preston (1985). Hearing the Noise: My Life in the NFL (1st ed.). New York, N.Y.: Morrow. p. 231. ISBN 0-688-04191-4.
- ^ Harris,Cliff.,, Waters,Charlie. (2003). Tales from the Dallas Cowboys: A Collection of BPortooks the Greatest Stories Ever Told (1st ed.). Sports Publishing L.L.C. p. 105. ISBN 1-58261-385-0.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)