Rock Cartwright is used to the role. Once again, though, that doesn’t mean he’s happy about it.
When the Redskins kept Marcus Mason, it left Cartwright as the No. 4 running back. It also leaves him as strictly a special teams player.
“He’s on all the special teams and that’s what he’s going to do,” Redskins running backs coach Stump Mitchell said of Cartwright.
That’s not what Cartwright wants to hear.
“I’ve been getting pushed back for the last four years now,” he said. “Marcus had a great preseason; he always has a great preseason. Now he takes my reps and I’m the fourth guy that’s just labeled as a special teams guy.
“[But] I saw it coming. When you see me in the third quarter of a preseason game – and I’m an eight-year vet and special teams captain – what does that tell you? Apparently I’m not a good running back. That’s how I feel. When I’ve gotten the opportunity I’ve shown what I’ve done. I’ll just do my thing on special teams.”
This is similar to 2006 when the Redskins traded for T.J. Duckett after Clinton Portis was hurt in the preseason. Last season, when Ladell Betts was hurt, the Redskins signed veteran Shaun Alexander. Both moved ahead of Cartwright.
“As far as getting toyed with, I think I have,” Cartwright said. “You guys have seen it. Who hasn’t seen it? There hasn’t been another place where … when the No. 1 guy goes down and the two guys behind him, one guy gets bumped up and the other gets bumped down. I’d rather just be with the special teams coach because I know I won’t get any carries.”
Cartwright has carried the ball 12 times from scrimmage in the past three years combined. In 2005, he carried 27 times for 199 yards. But he’s also been the primary kick returner for three straight seasons.
“Rock is labeled as a special teams guy, that’s all he is,” Cartwright said. “That’s what they want to label me as, that’s fine. That’s how I butter my bread and that’s what I’ll continue to do. … My loyalty is to the team.”
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