Mario Henderson Signed

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Raiders Sign OT Mario Henderson

July 13, 2007

The Oakland Raiders have signed rookie offensive tackle Mario Henderson. to a contract. The Raiders' second selection in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft signed the contract in the Silver and Black’s Hall of Fame room at their Alameda, Calif., Facility.

Henderson says, “It feels great. I feel like I’ve been blessed by God to have this opportunity to play for the Raiders. It’s a dream come true. Ever since I was a little kid I’ve always wanted to play in the NFL and now it’s official, so it’s a great feeling right now.”

The 6’7”, 310-pound tackle from Florida State played in all 13 games on the offensive line during his final season with the Seminoles.

"You have to work hard every Sunday, you can't take a Sunday off. I get to go into camp blocking [DE Derrick Burgess.] who went to the Pro Bowl the last two years. He's probably one of the best defensive ends in the league, and I get to have him helping me and to show me things every day in practice. In Training Camp, I'm just planning to go out and make an impact, show the coaches they can depend on me, and fight for a spot. I hear that the Raiders fans are very exciting and they love their Raiders. I'm excited to see them more than they are excited to see me on the field."

Henderson will report to his first NFL Training Camp on July 26th at the Raiders’ Napa Valley Training Complex, and his first opportunity to suit up in front of the Raider Nation when the Raiders open the 2007 Preseason on Friday, August 11, against the Arizona Cardinals at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland.
 
Raiders sign third-round draft pick Henderson

Steve Corkran

The Raiders signed rookie offensive tackle Mario Henderson on Friday in a move that leaves them with four of their 11 draft picks under contract.
Henderson was the second of Oakland's three players selected in the third round of the NFL draft in April. He is expected to make the regular-season roster and be groomed as a long-term fixture on the offensive line in subsequent seasons.

"It feels great," Henderson said soon after signing his first NFL contract at the team's year-round facility in Alameda. "It's a dream come true. Ever since I was a little kid, I've always wanted to play in the NFL and now it's official, so it's a great feeling right now."

Henderson starred at Florida State, where he played all 13 games during his final season. He said he is looking forward to his first training camp.

"I get to go into camp blocking (Derrick Burgess), who went to the Pro Bowl the last two years," Henderson said. "He's probably one of the best defensive ends in the league, and I get to have him helping me and to show me things every day in practice."

Henderson and his teammates are scheduled to report to training camp in Napa on July 26. Oakland's first exhibition game is Aug. 11 against the Arizona Cardinals at McAfee Coliseum. First-round pick JaMarcus Russell is one of the seven drafted rookies still unsigned. Henderson is the highest-drafted played signed by Oakland so far.
 
Mark Jackson is the one who negotiated the Darius deal so I am assuming he is the one doing the draftees...

Safety counts

The Raiders took safety Donovin Darius off the market, signing the free agent to a three-year, $7.1 million contract. Now the question is where Darius fits into the team's scheme, as both of last year's starters -- 2006 first-round draft choice Michael Huff and four-year veteran Stuart Schweigert -- return. The thinking in Oakland is to create Patriots-like competition, and let the battle among three solid players shake out in training camp. Flexibility is also a factor, as the coaching staff can mix and match depending on what package is called. One behind-the-scenes nugget on the Darius deal: It was negotiated by Mansfield native Mark Jackson, whose role as director of football operations continues to grow.
Click to expand...
 
Here is his salary..

2007 285000.00
2008 370000.00
2009 460000.00
2010 550000.00
 
http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2007/07/raiders-henderson-olinerenaissance180707.html


Let's face it, the Oakland Raiders were utterly inept in virtually every facet of offensive line play in 2006. That's not an overly antagonistic viewpoint or opinion. It's a factual statement based on a wealth of empirical evidence.

The Raiders certainly could not protect the quarterback with any kind of consistency, allowing a whopping 72 sacks during the course of season. So it's no surprise that Oakland finished 31st in the league in terms of passing offense. The silver and black were a little bit better in run blocking, paving the way for a 3.9 yards per carry average, but that figure was still among the worst in the league. It also doesn't fully illustrate the overwhelming sense of futility that is associated with the Raider rushing attack of a year ago.

The team's lack of production in the trenches translated into quite a dubious distinction for the '06 Raiders: They ranked dead last in both total and scoring offense.

Sadly, the franchise had previously attempted to rectify its glaring problem by selecting tackle Robert Gallery with the second overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. The plan was to use Gallery as the central building block in what would be a revamped offensive line. Unfortunately, Gallery has proven to be a turnstile at left tackle, allowing a terrible 10½ sacks last season. He also pitched in four false starts and three holding penalties, helping to facilitate a decision to move him over to right tackle.

Enter Mario Henderson.

Rookie head coach Lane Kiffin appears to have made a very wise decision in this year's draft. He selected the behemoth lineman, a former Florida State standout, in the third round. Henderson was brought in to add depth and stability to the tackle position, but Kiffin might get a much grander and immediate contribution from the 6-foot-7, 300-pound prospect.

Many depth charts have Henderson currently listed as a third-stringer, but keep in mind that the Raiders will not release an official depth chart until sometime in August. In the meantime, the LeHigh Acres, Florida native has plenty of time to get acclimated to the NFL and work his way into significant playing time.

Henderson's detractors will tell you that he is a project at best and a bit light for his frame. They will also be quick to point out that he logged just one full season as a starter for the Seminoles. However, both of those reasons of pessimism can be rather easily dismissed.

As a youth, Henderson fashioned himself as a basketball player. In fact, he didn't begin playing organized football until his sophomore year in high school. His early penchant for the hard court has afforded Henderson an uncanny amount of quickness and athleticism; therefore, once his 22-year-old body fully fills out, he should turn into one of those rare left tackle specimens who possesses both bulk and mobility.

The reason that Henderson did not start his first three years at FSU is quite simple: He spent two of those seasons backing up All-American tackle Alex Barron. As a junior, Henderson began the season as a backup but ascended to the starting role late in the year when the normal No. 1, Cory Niblock, went down with injury. By the way, his two starts came in the ACC Championship and the Orange Bowl. Henderson was so dominant in those two contests, against Virginia Tech and Penn State, respectively, that he earned high praise from his coaches and the media. He followed up those performances with a stellar senior campaign, earning the nickname "Super Mario."

But college exploits don't necessarily translate into NFL production. If that were the case, a supposed can't-miss prospect like Gallery would have already garnered All-Pro honors. For now, Henderson is just a third-round prospect battling Raider veterans Barry Sims and Chad Slaughter for playing time at left tackle.

However, his competition's track record of ineptitude and his wealth of physical ability make Henderson a prime, if surprising, candidate to help turn around the franchise's misfortunes along the O-line.
 
Here is a story on Henderson..

All is well for Henderson

By Craig Handel

Mario Henderson is a happy man these days.

The Oakland Raiders signed their third-round draft choice from Florida State to a four-year contract worth about $2.8 million.

He now can help provide for the grandparents who reared him.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-7, 313-pounder from Lehigh continues to work out, learn and get bigger and more flexible.

“I believe I'm progressing fast,” Henderson said. “I'm learning everything as quickly as I can, but I still have a lot to learn.

“My first goal when I came here was to come in and show the coaches they can count on me and they can depend on me. I'm practicing every day as I'm fighting to win a job, but I'm not thinking like I'm this or that or to be pretentious.”

From the time he arrived in Oakland on May 10, Henderson has been in mini-camps, OTAs (off-the-field workouts) or the weight room. The hotel he is staying in is just 2-3 minutes from the Raiders' complex.

While his weight is up from the 305 he played with at Florida State, he feels quicker as well as bigger.

“Of course I'm stronger,” Henderson said. “After the (NFL) combine, I built up my upper body and got a little bigger. From the workouts here, I'm more flexible in the hips. My stance now is lower than I was in college.”

Henderson is listening closely to Oakland offensive line coach Tom Cable, who he said is turning him into a man mentally.

“I'm picking things up quicker than I used to,” he said. “Coach Cable has two sayings - 'Iron sharpens iron' and 'Take the hill every day.' To me, it means help each other out every day and be the best or play the best and practice the best.”

Cable is one of many new coaches for the Raiders. The man running the show is Lane Kiffin, who at 31 is the youngest Oakland coach in history next to John Madden, who was 32.

The Raiders traded their biggest marquee player - wide receiver Randy Moss - to the New England Patriots. However, it could be addition by subtraction as Moss' production declined while his attitude soured with the losing in Oakland.

“We laugh and joke around, but we're serious when we need to be,” Henderson said. “The way the attitude and character is, I'm told it's more upbeat now. It's a new year. It's fresh. Everyone is excited.”

Henderson will be excited today when he returns home to Lehigh, where he'll get together with maternal grandparents Floridia and Herbert Pickens.

When Henderson was 9, his mother Sonia died at 28 after a year-and-a-half battle with breast cancer. Floridia and Herbert Pickens gladly continued to take care of him.

“Mario was practically with me all the time, anyway,” Floridia said. “His mother had him in high school, then went back to high school, then went to secondary school.”

With his contract money, Henderson wants to help his grandparents renovate their home while buying them a boat.

“They took care of me and now it's my job to take care of them,” he said. “They gave me the chance to live a good life and I want to do the same thing for them. They didn't have to do it.”

Floridia said she appreciates Henderson's offer.

“As I shared with him, if that's what he wants to do, it's very much appreciated, but there's nothing he owes us,” she said. “We're very happy for him and we will continue to pray with him that he leads the life of the Lord.

“I always had it in my heart he would make it big. He was just a big sports kid. He loved to play basketball, bowling. Mario, I call him my hero.”
 
Thanks again AP. I really like the young players with strong character we seem to be filled with these days. I also think Cable is one hard core SOB
 
This guy will definitely be tops on my list of scrubs I want to watch in the 2nd half of preseason games.
 
I like the fact that Cable pushes and Mario is a quick learner. I think we will see the product of that sooner rather than later.
 
Mike Bush and Zach Miller are the draftees who should be pushing hard to be signed ASAP... With a good camp, these two actually have the chance to be opening day starters...


I'm taking a wait and see approach with Mario... I didn't see enough of him to form an opinion and he got a less than glowing endorsement from our resident FSU felon, er fan Jack...
 
Several things I liked from that article: More flexible in the hips, lower stance, and stronger. Every freaking one of those is a positive for an OL.

I'm looking forward to seeing him on the field.
 
hawaiianboy said:
Mike Bush and Zach Miller are the draftees who should be pushing hard to be signed ASAP... With a good camp, these two actually have the chance to be opening day starters...
Click to expand...

I don't think Miller should have too much problem supplanting Courtney Anderson. I think I'd slow roll Bush until he is definitely running on all cylinders. Just would hate to lose him to an early season injury and jeopardize his career.
 
Lehigh NFL player rewards grandparents
Oakland draftee shares $2.8 million contract

Craig Handel

July 23, 2007

Mario Henderson is a happy man these days.

The Oakland Raiders gave him financial security when they signed their third-round draft choice from Florida State to a four-year contract worth about $2.8 million last week.

The Lehigh Senior High graduate then made his way home for a weekend visit to thank the people who made his success possible.

The love and guidance of maternal grandparents Floridia and Herbert Pickens helped Henderson overcome the childhood loss of his parents.

Now the 6-foot-7, 313-pound offensive tackle can help provide for the grandparents who took him as their own.

“They took care of me and now it’s my job to take care of them,” said Henderson, 22, who plans to use part of his contract to renovate the Pickens’ Lehigh Acres home and buy them a boat.

“They gave me the chance to live a good life, and I want to do the same thing for them,” he said.

Henderson never knew his father, who was shot and killed when his son was 2-months-old.

At 9, Henderson lost his mother, Sonia, after a 1 1⁄2-year battle with breast cancer. He honors her memory with a tattoo of her name on the right side of his neck.

Herbert, a retired Chicago Transit Authority official, and Floridia, a retired nurse, didn’t hesitate to adopt their grandson. The Pickens moved from Belleville, Ill., to Lehigh shortly after Sonia’s death so they could be closer to family.

“Mario was practically with me all the time, anyway,” said Floridia, who took care of Henderson while her daughter attended high school and then worked as a secretary.
“We had no problems with Mario. He was malleable, not sassy, not a kid who would talk back. Raising him was kind of fun. He was shy to some extent.”

After playing at Bishop Verot his first two years of high school, Henderson transferred to Lehigh to follow assistant coach Larry Gary. The Florida High School Athletic Association forced Henderson to sit out a season because state rules don’t allow players to follow coaches when they move to a new school.

“That was a sad situation,” said Tom Roszell, his coach at Lehigh. “But he practiced with us every day. His commitment was to his teammates and the team. He waited patiently and worked on the academic end, which was a challenge.”

Henderson stayed in shape by cutting out cheeseburgers and fast food and playing basketball for Lehigh. The next summer, he shined at the Down and Dirty linemen camp. Henderson and former Estero High and current University of Miami offensive lineman Derrick Morse rated highest.

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden won over Floridia and then Henderson, signing him to play ball in Tallahassee.

In four seasons for the Seminoles, Henderson appeared in 28 games and started in all 13 his senior season.

His footwork impressed Raiders coaches, who selected him in April’s NFL Draft.
From the time he arrived in Oakland on May 10, Henderson has been in mini-camps, off-the-field workouts or in the weight room.

“My first goal, when I came here, was to come in and show the coaches they can count on me and they can depend on me,” he said. “I’m practicing every day as I’m fighting to win a job, but I’m not thinking like I’m this or that or to be pretentious.”

That attitude is just not in Henderson.

“He may seem larger than life,” Roszell said. “But his heart is bigger than his body.”
 
CAlling the Turk

Dude you have to go and take some pictures - It's only 90 minutes away.

Mario Henderson's Official NFL Signing Party

When: Wednesday, July 25, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Where: Envie Lounge, 2213 Main Street, Fort Myers

Cost: Free

Age limit: 21+

Categories: Bars | Specials

Description: Help Lehigh Acres grad Mario Henderson celebrate his NFL signing to the Oakland Raiders at Envie Lounge! This 6'7" 310 pound offensive tackle out of FSU will be packing up and heading to training camp on July 26th, so be there the night before to send him off with a bang.
http://www.bonitanews.com/events/2007/jul/25/7356/
 
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LOL..I like his laid back attitude..reminds me of Crockett who is one of my favorites.
 
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