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The Cardinals remained interested in trading offensive tackle L.J. Shelton for Buffalo running back Travis Henry, but according to Arizona Republic staffer Kent Somers, a potential swap probably wouldn't happen until during the draft in April.

Why? As outlined in last Sunday's Fantasy Notebook, the proposed deal is more complicated than just player for player.

In addition to getting Shelton, Bills general manager Tom Donahoe reportedly also wants to switch spots in the second round. That would mean Buffalo would move to the No. 44 slot overall and Arizona would slide back to the No. 55 spot.

Cardinals head coach Dennis Green is said to be balking at that aspect of the trade but still wants Henry to fill the hole left by Emmitt Smith's retirement.

During a Wednesday interview with Sirius NFL Radio, Donahue confirmed the complexities involved in such a deal.

"They told us they didn't want to do the one-on-one swap either," Donahoe said. "They wanted us to give them Travis, plus something else.

"Arizona understands our position, we understand theirs. So probably, unless somebody wants to blink, it's probably not going to get done. Sometimes as you get closer to the draft, and these ideas that looked like they were dead, they start to take on a new life.

"So we will keep the door open and will continue to look, because that is probably the fair thing to do."

Somers went on to suggest the trade might hinge on what the Cardinals do in the draft. If they take a running back in the first few rounds -- perhaps Cal's J.J. Arrington, there would be less need for Henry.

Henry's contract also complicates matters. He has one year left on his deal, and the Cardinals would want to sign him to a longer-term contract before trading for him.

A former second-round pick, Henry had consecutive 1,300-yard seasons in 2002-03 before being demoted last season. An ankle injury forced him to miss the final five games of 2004.

Henry, who lost the featured role to Willis McGahee, said recently that he will not return to Buffalo next season.

"I'm definitely not going back to Buffalo if that's what you want to hear," the running back told the Associated Press on Mar. 21. "No mini-camps. No training camp. No nothing. ... I packed my stuff and left. As soon as the season was over, I was out of there and I didn't have any plans of coming back."

Donahoe dismissed Henry's statements as posturing during his Sirius appearance.

"I have heard every threat that there is," he said. "It is just that time of year where people posture and people say a lot of things. But you know a player who is going into the last year of his contract, to take the year off and not play football, that is professional suicide."

Bills head coach Mike Mularkey also expects Henry to attend spring mini-camps if he's still on the team.

"I know he's frustrated," Mularkey told Buffalo News beat man Allen Wilson earlier this week. "He wants his chance to be a starter. We have done everything we can to really honor his request for a trade. I think there is still time for it to happen. If it doesn't happen, Travis has a contract with us and is required to be here when camp comes around."

Henry's frustration is certainly understandable.

As SI.com columnist Jeffri Chadiha put it Tuesday: "He's played the loyal company man long enough. He accepted that McGahee was a better fit for the team and he wants to move on with his life, as quickly as possible."

Chadiha added: "Given how professionally he's conducted himself with the Bills over the last four years, it would be a shame if he didn't get that wish."

I couldn't agree more. If nothing else, swapping Shelton for Henry makes a great deal of sense.

The Bills could use Shelton, who wouldn't mind putting Arizona -- and more specifically Green -- in his rear-view mirror, to bolster an offensive line that lost three players to free agency, including starting left tackle Jonas Jennings.

Arizona is in need of a proven running back with Smith no longer on board and top backups Troy Hambrick and Marcel Shipp still recovering from injuries suffered last year.

But at this point, final resolution on this situation will have to wait until April 23, when the NFL Draft gets underway. ...

One last note here, also according to Wilson: Mularkey has not ruled out signing another running back if Henry is traded, but the coach added he would be comfortable going into the season with Shaud Williams, Joe Burns and late-season practice squad addition Dante Brown as backups to McGahee.