Josh Tolentino: Ravens' Derrick Henry is quite a character. And he's still a beast.

BALTIMORE — Turns out, Derrick Henry pays attention to the local paper’s predictions. And he enjoys reminding us when we pick the wrong team.

Standing behind a lectern in the bowels of Mercedes-Benz Stadium late Sunday night, the Ravens star running back used his first answer to bring up The Baltimore Sun’s weekly picks. Baltimore had escaped Atlanta with a thrilling 30-23 victory in overtime, and Henry had earned a little time to gloat.

“I do want to say, I saw a post on Instagram [from The] Baltimore Sun,” Henry said. “[There] was not a lot of y’all picking us to win, too, and you [were] one of them.”

He pointed at The Sun’s Brian Wacker, who had indeed picked the Falcons.

Five members of our seven-person panel predicted an Atlanta victory. Editor C.J. Doon and I picked Baltimore. I’ll gladly accept an exemption from this particular scolding.

“I couldn’t wait for this moment,” Henry added. “I am going to go back and look, because I saved it.”

Henry has bulldozed his way toward Canton, but apparently a few skeptical sportswriters can still garner his attention. He sure did keep the receipts, too.

I’ll give it to Henry. He’s enjoying himself. And the longer his remarkable career rolls on, the more enjoyable he’s become to cover.

Baltimore already knows the bruising runner who anchors its ground game. Lately, the future Hall of Famer has been giving fans more of the wit and candor behind that punishing stiff-arm.

Henry, who turns 33 in January, remains an exhausting assignment for defenders. The 6-foot-3, 252-pound tailback enters Week 6 with 476 rushing yards, fifth in the NFL, and seven rushing touchdowns, second only to Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen. Running back is supposed to be a young man’s position. Henry, though, remains a grown man’s problem.

As his extraordinary career stretches on, he’s becoming as compelling to listen to as he is to watch.

That hasn’t always been the case.

During Henry’s first season in Baltimore in 2024, he was much more reluctant to speak with the media, according to multiple reporters who covered the team. At times, he went weeks without addressing reporters.

Over the past year-plus, his availability has changed considerably. After games, win or loss, Henry regularly lingers among the last players in the locker room. By the time he meets with reporters, much of the room has emptied.

These days, he’s been worth the wait.

His sense of humor isn’t entirely new. Henry has shown his lighter side in national commercials for brands such as Old Spice, State Farm and Pepsi, including a Super Bowl spot for OIKOS earlier this year. More of it is coming through in his day-to-day interactions around the Ravens, too.

Last Thursday, local broadcaster Jerry Coleman and I stood near Henry’s locker after practice while he scrolled on his phone for a couple of minutes. Before either of us asked for an interview, Henry stood and waved us over. Other reporters quickly gathered as he held court.

Afterward came his good-natured campaign pitch.

Henry is seeking consideration for the Baltimore chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America’s Good Guy Award. His lobbying carried enough humor to draw a laugh and enough persistence to suggest he’s serious about claiming the award.

Safety Kyle Hamilton earned the Good Guy honor last year for the second time. Local reporters vote for the award, which recognizes players who consistently make themselves available and offer insight into the team.

Henry’s willingness to answer questions after losses strengthens his case. But it’s not just that he’s around more often. He’s saying more, too — offering fuller, more thoughtful answers and a clearer window into how he sees the game.

His evolution off the field has come without much decline on it.

Fans still care most about what happens when Henry plants his foot and accelerates through a hole. Sunday night offered plenty to satisfy them. He hammered out 102 yards on 24 carries, turned a screen into an 18-yard touchdown and delivered the tying two-point conversion. Without Lamar Jackson, Baltimore needed its other fearsome offensive playmaker to shoulder a substantial load.

Asked whether he noticed receiver Zay Flowers brushing by him on the wildcat two-point conversion, Henry made his priorities clear.

“I was looking at the end zone. I did not care if it was Zay, Ray, Tay …” he said, drawing laughter. “I was going into the end zone.”

Heck, even his punchlines come with a little force.

How does he keep doing it?

“He’s a pro. He’s a [future] gold jacket player for a reason,” right tackle Roger Rosengarten said. “Week in, week out, he takes the game plan, dials it in very seriously and he’s always asking questions.

“All he needs is a little crease to spring a big run for him, and he’s been dominant in the pass game, too. You saw it in the screen versus Atlanta. It’s been amazing being drafted here. Being told Derrick Henry is going to be your running back is a great feeling.”

Henry seemingly climbs another rung in the NFL’s record books every week. His 13,494 rushing yards rank ninth all time, while his 129 rushing touchdowns trail only Emmitt Smith and LaDainian Tomlinson. He continues to chase down legends while remaining indispensable to Baltimore’s pursuit of a third Super Bowl title.

Cleveland (3-2) gets the next turn trying to contain the King.

We’ve seen veteran quarterbacks grow more comfortable sharing what they know as they get older. The answers get richer, the stories get better and a little more personality slips through. Henry seems to be reaching that stage himself, with more than a decade of experience at one of football’s most punishing positions to draw from.

There’s plenty left to learn from one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. Henry seems more willing to share it, and we ought to enjoy his growing candor while he’s still giving defenders so little to smile about.

So, thanks for reading our predictions, Derrick. And thanks for giving us a better look at the candid, quick-witted competitor behind everything you’ve accomplished on the field.