Go to home page

BY RICH CAMPBELL

ASHBURN

That's why regardless of what Cartwright does today against the Philadelphia Eagles in his fourth career start, his career must be considered a success. The likable long shot with the fitting football name already has proved enough people wrong and endeared himself to an entire organization for eight seasons and counting.

"I think everybody on our team knows who the heart and soul of the Washington Redskins is, and that's Rock Cartwright," running back Clinton Portis said on his radio show this week. "He'll go out and play special teams, he'll give everything he's got day in and day out. He going to be a vocal leader. He going to speak his mind. He going to fight. He going to be scrappy, and you've seen that."

Cartwright will take the field with the Redskins' offense this afternoon and attempt to seize an opportunity he has coveted for the last five-plus seasons. You can doubt him at your own risk. Just do so knowing that he has built his career on opportunism.

OUT TO PROVE 'EM WRONG

The Redskins drafted Cartwright 257th overall--fifth-to-last--in 2002, coach Steve Spurrier's first season. It's a pedigree that he disregarded then and now.

"I think the draft, [the pundits] mess a lot of people around with projections, and I think people listen to them," he said. "And then when teams actually get the guy, the guy doesn't pan out. I think the draft is definitely overrated."

His staying power with the Redskins supports that, at least. Cartwright was the last of 25 running backs drafted in 2002. Only eight remain in the league, including Portis and teammate Ladell Betts.

Cartwright figured he might have been a first-day draft choice had he been a couple of inches taller. At 237 pounds, he ran an impressive 4.42-second 40-yard dash and did 30 bench-press repetitions.

"Guys are still hungry, and when you're drafted in the seventh round, you have nowhere to go but up," he said. "Me personally, I like to prove people wrong. That's how I get my motivation."

Cartwright, who turns 30 next week, reported to Ashburn as a rookie without any prior special teams experience, save for some stints as a kickoff returner.

It was around that time that he realized special teams would be his only avenue to an NFL career. Fortunately for him, he knew how to tackle. He played linebacker on the Conroe (Texas) High School varsity as a freshman before switching to running back the following year.

He started three games at running back in 2003 after injuries propped him up on the depth chart--just as they've done this season. But special teams became his forte. He went from having hardly any experience as a rookie to special teams co-captain the last two seasons.

He has contributed in many ways, doing everything from returning kickoffs to covering punts.

"That's what you keep veterans like him around for," second-year tight end Fred Davis said. "They know what to do. They can come in and make plays and it's like, 'Damn, where'd he come from?'"

He also has become one of the team's most vocal leaders, players say. And from a media perspective, he's one of the few players reliably inside the locker room each day ready to answer the same questions about the Redskins' struggles.

LOOKING FOR HIS CHANCE

During his rise to prominence on the team, though, Cartwright has pined for another chance to showcase himself as a running back.

A familiar scene played out in September, when running back Marcus Mason made the final 53-man roster. Cartwright, as was the case in several previous years, saw it as an affront to his abilities as a running back, and he made his feelings known.

"The thing that is great about Rock is that he hung in there," coach Jim Zorn said. "He said his piece, he felt a certain way, yet he wasn't disgruntled and didn't try to split himself away from the team or tell everybody, 'I'm done with this.' That's what a captain does."

Cartwright's patience, then, has paid off. He'll start today because of injuries to Portis (concussion) and Betts (sprained knee). It's the chance he campaigned for in September, but he doesn't feel burdened by what he said back then.

"I don't feel like I have to back it up," Cartwright said. "I just have to go out and play football. I know how to play football. I know how to run, catch and block. That's what I've got to do."

So don't be surprised if Cartwright plays well. After proving himself enough times, it's what he and his teammates have come to expect.

"Rock plays with a lot of passion and he wears his heart on his sleeve," quarterback Jason Campbell said. "He is going to let you know about it. He is like that with everyone, so you have to respect the guy's integrity and the way he comes out and plays. If opportunity presents itself, he is one of the guys to take advantage of it. We are more than happy to have Rock back there because you know he is going to give it all he has and he is going to fight."

NOTES

Secondary coach Jerry Gray will not be hired by the University of Memphis to fill its vacant head coaching position, according to reports by ESPN and the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Memphis reportedly will hire LSU assistant Larry Porter.

Former Redskins guard Russ Grimm is among 25 semifinalists for the Hall of Fame class of 2010.

STAT OF THE WEEK: 10

Different starting quarterbacks for the Redskins since QB Donovan McNabb became Philadelphia's starter in 1999.

INJURY REPORT

REDSKINS: Out--TE Chris Cooley (ankle), CB DeAngelo Hall (knee), RB Clinton Portis (concussion); Questionable--LB H.B. Blades (knee); DT Albert Haynesworth (left ankle); FB Mike Sellers (hamstring); TE Todd Yoder (toe); Probable--RT Stephon Heyer (left knee); OL Mike Williams (ankle).

EAGLES: Out--WR Kevin Curtis (knee), LB Akeem Jordan (knee), RB Brian Westbrook (concussion); Questionable--CB Asante Samuel (neck); LB Jeremiah Trotter (knee); Probable--DE Victor Abiamiri (knee), CB Sheldon Brown (hamstring) G Nick Cole (knee), S Quintin Demps (ankle), S Victor Harris (eye), T Winston Justice (knee), WR Jeremy Maclin (foot), DT Mike Patterson (wrist/toe), T Jason Peters (ankle), FB Leonard Weaver (ankle).

Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com

Back to top