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Sandler to cast Ravens' Henry if he rushes for 2K

  • Jamison HensleyJun 6, 2025, 05:56 PM ET

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      Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.

The NFL’s most interesting side bet — one involving Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry and Hollywood’s most famous “Waterboy” — is official.

A 2,000-yard rushing season for Henry this year will get him into the NFL record book — as well as an Adam Sandler movie.

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This added incentive originated on “The Dan Patrick Show” on Tuesday, when Dan Patrick told Henry that he would get the five-time Pro Bowl player in a Sandler movie if he surpassed 2,000 yards rushing this season. Two days later, King Henry had a deal with Happy Gilmore himself.

On Thursday, Henry was handed a phone on the practice field that contained a video message from Sandler.

“Two thousand yards-plus this year not only gets you in a movie, but we’ll have a nice dinner together and talk about Dan Patrick’s facial hair and how hard it is for him to grow it,” Sandler said in a video that was posted Friday. “I love ya and keep it up.”

Henry is one of nine NFL players to produce a 2,000-yard rushing season, when he did so in 2020. If he eclipses 2,000 yards in 2025, he would become the first NFL player to record the accomplishment twice and now could earn a cameo with his favorite actor.