Since Travis Henry plowed his way to a double-take, that-just-can't-be-right 4,087 yards rushing and 42 touchdowns in his 14-game senior season alone at Frostproof (Fla.) High School, scouts, fans, teammates and coaches alike have long tried to describe his running style.

Low. Powerful. Point A to Point B direct.

Or just plain hard. Yes, they always seem to finish there. Hard.

But it was former University of Tennessee defensive end Corey Terry who may have summed it up the best when, in a Vols preseason scrimmage in 1998 and Terry had finally, after taking a another bruise or two for his troubles, managed to bring Henry to the ground.

"Man,'' Terry told Henry that day, "you're as hard as government cheese.''

And so it went Henry, who left the "Cheese'' nickname in Knoxville, Tenn., for the most part on his way through six NFL seasons split between the Bills and the Titans. A back who has always drawn raves for that power as well as questions as to what he could do in an offense that covets a straight-ahead back and willing to give him all of the carries he could handle.

Those two things officially met Monday when Henry agreed to a five-year deal with the Broncos, a hefty contract that will include $12 million in guaranteed money.

"I am real excited about it, considering all the stuff they've done, the way they run the ball and they have shown me a lot of love out here,'' Henry said before leaving Denver. "They have a good organization, a good thing going and I am excited about it, man. The way they run the ball, to me, it fits my style of running so I am real happy about that.’’

Henry, who will turn 29 in October, has been to one Pro Bowl -- in 2002 with Buffalo. He has three 1,000-yard seasons in his career, but lost his starting job with the Bills when they moved Willis McGahee into the lineup and was going to have a difficult time being the Titans starter again in '07 as Tennessee hopes Denver native LenDale White can be its starter.

So Henry, who was set to visit Oakland and Green Bay in the coming days had he not signed in Buffalo, found his way to Denver.

The running game has been of particular interest for the Broncos since free agency opened with the team having brought in three backs in the first weekend to sign players -- Henry, Ahman Green and Correll Buckhalter.

Henry was originally set to leave Denver Sunday evening, but the Broncos asked him to stay over as team officials, including general manager Ted Sundquist, worked to finish the deal Monday morning.

The Broncos also had at least one preliminary discussion with the Bills in recent days, who are shopping McGahee to several teams for a potential trade, before signing Henry. Henry, who played behind the NFL's offensive rookie of the year in Titans quarterback Vince Young said he's just as excited to take the ball from the Broncos' Jay Cutler.

"I just know from watching him at Vanderbilt, he is a good player and it is going to be great working with him,'' Henry said. "They love him up here and he has a bright future, just like Vince does.’’

Henry finished with 1,211 yards rushing in '06 with seven touchdowns and six 100-yard games. For his career Henry has three 1,000-yard seasons, 5,395 career yards and 34 rushing touchdowns.

The only caveat is Henry did have a four-game suspension in the 2005 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy, meaning he had tested positive at least once to enter the league's program and tested positive again to warrant the suspension.

Henry said Monday the Titans, who had offered $8 million in guaranteed money, may have been swayed by his past in the negotiations with him. The Broncos are believed to have built some protection into the deal, to recover some of the signing bonus money if Henry tests positive again.

"Granted, there might have been some question marks out there with me because of stuff that happened in the past,'' Henry said. "But I can say one thing: I know where I want to be at the end of my career and I know where I want to end up at and ... I know I have been in this league six years and to get a deal like I am getting, it is a blessing. I am going to give everything I’ve got to the Broncos ... I am going to a great organization and I’m going to do everything I can to help the Denver Broncos.’’

ETC.: The Broncos, who have already given one-year tender offers to fullbacks Kyle Johnson and Cecil Sapp, signed former Rams fullback Paul Smith to a three-year deal Monday. Smith is considered by special teams coaches around the league to be one of the best kick coverage players in the middle of the field in the league. Smith blasted so hard into a wedge on kickoff coverage against Detroit this past season that he suffered an eye-socket injury. He was also good enough in the offense to beat out Madison Hedgecock for the Rams' starting fullback job in training camp as well and will certainly have a chance to be the Broncos starting fullback as well ... Free agent defensive end Patrick Kerney, who visited the Broncos Friday night and Saturday, left Seattle Monday without a deal, but the Seahawks were pushing hard to get Kerney under contract. The Titans, with plenty of room under the salary cap, were trying to get into the bidding, but Kerney said in Denver he preferred to play "in this part of the country.'' ... The Seahawks were also putting together an offer for tight end Daniel Graham, a Thomas Jefferson graduate who has an multi-year offer from the Broncos as well ... Quarterback Anthony Wright was scheduled to visit the Broncos Monday and into today.

legwoldj@rockymountainnews.com or 303-892-2359