His career sidetracked by an alcohol problem, Erin Henderson believes the door is open for a return to the Vikings.

The linebacker played for Minnesota the past six years, the past three as a starter. But he was released Feb. 7, shortly after his second drunken driving arrest in 1-1/2 months.

“I completely understood where the organization was coming from and what they needed to do for themselves moving forward,” Henderson said in a phone interview Wednesday.

Henderson, though, said he met with Vikings general manager Rick Spielman shortly before he was let go, and Spielman told him “there was that window of opportunity” for him to return to the only NFL team he has known.

Henderson said Spielman told him that “if I can continue to take care of myself from what I need to take care of, then there’s always a chance that I can get back up there. So the door was left open.”

A Vikings spokesperson said Spielman was unavailable for comment.

When Henderson, 27, last spoke to Spielman, he had just completed a 30-day program at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center but had not resolved his legal problems. That changed this month, when he pleaded guilty in separate cases while having more serious charges dismissed. That could pave the way for Henderson, who has been working out in Los Angeles, to return to the NFL.

“That was something I wanted to take care of as soon as possible, and we were able to come up with something that worked for both sides,” Henderson said. “I’m looking forward to moving forward with my career. Having that legal burden lifted is definitely some weight off my shoulders. … I’ll definitely be playing in (the NFL in 2014).”

Henderson faced two counts of fourth-degree driving while impaired, one count of careless driving and one count of possessing more than 1.4 grams of marijuana after being arrested Nov. 19 in Eden Prairie.

Eden Prairie prosecutor Jennifer Spalding said Henderson pleaded guilty May 6 to one count of careless driving. He received a $1,000 fine and one year of probation and must perform 40 hours of community service, which Henderson said he is setting up.

Henderson’s second arrest was Jan. 1 after a single-car accident in Chanhassen. He was charged with second- and third-degree DWI, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and a violation of a special condition in his driver’s license.

Chanhassen prosecutor Elliott Knetsch said Henderson pleaded guilty May 5 to fourth-degree DWI. He received a $1,000 fine and two years of probation while having to provide evidence of having completed rehabilitation.

On Jan. 2, the day Henderson was released from jail following his second arrest, he checked into Hazelden, a treatment center in the Twin Cities. He chronicled that experience in a first-person account he wrote last month for the website TMZ.com.

“It was tough at first, but you get adjusted to being there,” Henderson said Wednesday. “I wouldn’t trade those 30 days for anything, to be able to better myself and do some soul searching. … I’m sober (now), but it’s definitely an everyday battle. Every day is a struggle, but they say it’s one day at a time, so that’s how I’m taking it. But I’m enjoying the sober life; it’s really not as bad as I thought.

“In a perfect world, I would say that I would never have another drink. Marijuana is not really a huge problem for me. I didn’t smoke when I was in college (Maryland, 2004-07), and I’ve gone years at a time without messing with it, so I don’t see that as much of an issue as it is with alcohol. Alcohol is always present and always around, so it’s just one day at a time.”

Henderson said he has received plenty of support from Vikings players. He said he has had more spiritual awareness since wide receiver Greg Jennings visited him in Hazelden and “brought the word of God.” Linebacker Chad Greenway and safety Jamarca Sanford and former Vikings linebacker Marvin Mitchell also have reached out to him.

Henderson did not want to elaborate on how much he drank while with the Vikings, but he acknowledged it was sometimes evident to teammates and coaches that he was hung over during practice.

Did it affect his play?

“I’d been drinking my entire life, since I was 15 years old,” he said. “I’ve never really known what my body is like without alcohol, and that is something that I’m curious to see.”

Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2008, Henderson earned a starting position in 2011 and in 2013 signed a two-year deal that could have been worth more than $4 million. Being released potentially cost him more than $2 million.

“I’ll be forever grateful to the Vikings for what they did for me and the different opportunities that they presented to me, but it was more so that I let my family down that bothered me more than anything,” said Henderson, whose brother, E.J. Henderson, was a Vikings linebacker from 2003-11.

Still, Henderson is hopeful his two arrests will end up being a “blessing in disguise” because he is sober and optimistic about a bright NFL future.

Henderson said he’s in great shape but not close to signing with a team. One reason is uncertainty over possible NFL discipline, which could include a suspension.

“I think a lot of teams are hesitant right now because they don’t really know what the league is going to do as far as punishment or anything,” Henderson said. “So that’s the next step.

“I feel 100 percent healthy, no bumps or bruises. … With my body of work that I’ve done in this league, I’ll definitely be playing in the league (next season). I think that outweighs the negative things that have come my way. But while some people might look at them as negatives, I think it’s a blessing in disguise because you find out a little bit about yourself in the darkest times and the character about who you are.”

Follow Chris Tomasson at twitter.com/christomasson.