One day after venting his frustrations over the running back situation to a few reporters, Redskins returner Rock Cartwright wants everyone to know this: no matter how he feels, he’s a team player.
Cartwright created a stir with comments Monday to several outlets, including the Washington Examiner, about being demoted to the No. 4 running back. He’s also the primary kick returner and that hasn’t changed. He phoned today not to say that he’d been misquoted or taken out of context. But he did want to make something else clear.
“I know my role and my role is to be a great special teams player,” he said. “So that’s what I do. I’m all about the team. I just want to do my job. I’m happy with my role.”
Having covered Cartwright for his entire NFL career, I’m not sure about that last statement. However, that’s not a negative. Is he happy with his role? Probably not; at least not completely. Does he need to be? No. The reason a guy of his size can last eight years in the NFL is because he plays with a fury, the cliched chip-on-the-shoulder. Little guys don’t last unless they have some sort of attitude. Cartwright used to be a perennial bubble guy, but he wanted more. He got more. He hasn’t been mentioned among possible cuts in a couple years. He still wants more; that’s why he’s an overachiever.
He’s vented before, after the Redskins traded for T.J. Duckett and signed Shaun Alexander. Monday’s comments echoed closely what he said after the Duckett acquisition. His play wasn’t affected then, nor was his leadership in the locker room. There’s a reason he’s been voted captain each of the past two years.
In reality, the guy who may have more of a beef is Ladell Betts. If Marcus Mason is ever active, it’s likely that Betts would be inactive. And vice versa. So there’s still a scenario in which Cartwright will be the No. 3 back in a game.
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