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By Rich Campbell

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Cartwright wants to put the team first

Sep. 9, 2009 9:30 am

Good morning, folks. Sorry I neglected you yesterday. Between my trip to Ashburn, my trip down to Fredericksburg to talk to Jason Campbell at the PNC Bank opening (did any of you go meet him?), my story for today's paper on the encouraging receiving corps, work on the season preview for tomorrow's paper and the flat tire I got along the way, something had to give.

I want to start the day by addressing running back Rock Cartwright's comments about his role now that running back Marcus Mason made the team. Cartwright is disappointed about moving down on the depth chart. But there's one thing about Rock that you probably already know from following this team: he doesn't let this kind of emotion negatively affect his play and he doesn't take it inside the locker room.

The guy's a competitor, and his disappointment is understandable. But it stops there.

"All I can do is come to work with a positive attitude and continue to work hard like I do every day," he said. "It's frustrating, but at the same time, I don't make the decisions. I just do what they ask me to do, and that's come out here and prepare every day to put the team in good field position."

I was talking with the Washington Examiner's John Keim about all this yesterday, and he made a great point. Cartwright's fire in this type of situation is why he has managed to stay in the league for eight years despite his height (5-foot-7) and despite his seventh-round draft status. Not only is he a fierce competitor, he's a pro. It's why the Redskins made him a captain again this season.

The irony about Rock's disappointment is that it's probable he'll play more than Mason or Ladell Betts. Cartwright is a standout special teamer. And on a unit that lost it's top two tacklers in James Thrash and Khary Campbell, Cartwright is as valuable as ever. Thus, he's guaranteed to be active on gameday. 

Either Betts or Mason are likely to be the odd man out, so Rock is probably going to fill his normal role as the No. 3 running back. 

I don't see this situation being toxic. I think you can rely on Rock to put it out of his mind, or at least channel any disappointment into helping the team.

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Rich Campbell joined The Free Lance-Star as a sports writer in Sept. 2007 and covered the Washington Nationals until Jan. 2008. He is not related to Jason Campbell, but he does cover the Washington Redskins and local high school sports.

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