Shooter McGavin
Down the middle
http://www.mlive.com/sports/saginaw/index...._for_redem.html
Look out HOF, here comes Chuck!
Look out HOF, here comes Chuck!
On a serious note, I'd love to see him get his crap together and fulfill some of the promise he had at MSU and early in his career with the Lions, but it's hard to believe a guy who has screwed up so many times.Charles Rogers claims Charles Rogers finally gets it, finally is ready to make the commitment needed to fulfill Charles Rogers' promise as an NFL player.
Rogers, 28, helped former Saginaw High teammate LaMarr Woodley during Saturday's LaMarr Woodley-Clifton Ryan football camp at Saginaw High.
But it was a different Rogers than in the past. He was stronger, more focused. He looked like a football player.
That's the point.
"There's nothing concrete (about the NFL), just speculative," Rogers said. "But if a team gives me a tryout, I know I'm going to be ready. I'm in better shape now than I was before."
According to Rogers, the change in attitude came two months ago, about the same time he finished a month in jail for testing positive for alcohol and for falsifying Alcoholics Anonymous records.
But that, Rogers says, is not the only motivation.
There was the Super Bowl, when he watched Woodley, a former teammate, win a title. There are the comments from detractors and supporters about wasted talent. There was the cursory glance at NFL rosters, a glance that convinced Rogers that he could make a 53-man roster.
If.
It's always if. But maybe, just maybe, this time Rogers is serious.
"Everything I hear from friends is that he's working out all the time," Woodley said. "He's in great shape. He's ready, and I hope he gets his chance.
"Charles Rogers was my motivation. When I was a freshman, I saw everything he was getting as a senior, all the attention, the top recruit ... all that stuff. It made me want that too.
"I told him that if I ever forget to invite him, to come anyway. He's always invited."
And now, Woodley motivates Rogers. But there is more.
"At the end of the day, I can look myself in the mirror ... I probably couldn't do that awhile back," Rogers said. "Maybe it's maturity. As I get older, you think differently, talk differently, see things differently."
Rogers was the Detroit Lions' No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft and, for five games he lived up to the billing, catching 22 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns. But two collarbone injuries and violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy led to his release from the Lions in 2006.
He had some workouts, but Miami, New England and Tampa Bay passed when Rogers could not come close to the 4.28-second 40 time he ran when he was drafted.
Rogers doesn't know if he has 4.28 time again, but he said he feels stronger and faster than he has since his rookie season.
"I'm still young," Rogers said.
Most of the motivation seems to come from regret.
"I know my next shot might be my last shot," Rogers said. "I know I have to work harder than I ever worked before. I'm willing to do that."
Rogers weighs in at 207 pounds, up from the 195 he weighed as a rookie. But he's not overweight.
"I definitely want to see what Charles Rogers is made of," Rogers said. "I want to see if Charles Rogers can pull this off."
Time will tell if Rogers gets the opportunity he wants and if he can take advantage of it. He may never get that chance, and he understands why.
"You're going to stumble, you're going to trip in life," Rogers said. "It's a crazy world. You have to get yourself up, dust yourself off and go at it again.
"I want to see what I'm made of too," Rogers said.
Rogers points to his life prior to two months ago and since. He's a different man and a different athlete. This time, he says, he will be ready if he gets the opportunity.
He's still young, still gifted. And he seems to finally get it.
Whether the light bulb came on too late or even if it is on to stay remains to be seen.
