Rogers: 'I'm not a backup'

• Article
• Comments ()
• Click-2-Listen
• Videos

By David Elfin

Cornerback Carlos Rogers seemed headed to the Pro Bowl at midseason. Now he's not even sure he will be back with the Washington Redskins after having his playing time drastically reduced.

"I'm not a backup to nobody," Rogers said. "I'm a starter in this league. Everybody knows that. There's a lot of teams that would give their right arm to have me on their team."

Entering the final season of the five-year contract he signed as the ninth pick in the 2005 draft, Rogers remains baffled by his sudden placement behind Shawn Springs, whom he had seemingly supplanted as the No. 1 corner, and DeAngelo Hall, who was signed in November. Rogers didn't start Sunday at San Francisco and also was a reserve Dec. 14 at Cincinnati.

"In Cincinnati, I played [just] nine plays," Rogers said. "I'm used to playing 60 to 70 plays. All of a sudden, you're a backup, you're a nickel, you're a third corner. That don't sit well with me. I still haven't had answers to the questions I want to know."

Rogers said he plans to meet with cornerbacks coach Jerry Gray on Tuesday.

Uncertain futures

One's the senior Redskins player after 10 years in Washington. The other was the Redskins' only Pro Bowl player in 2004. Both left Redskin Park knowing they might not return.

Offensive tackle Jon Jansen turns 33 next month. Linebacker Marcus Washington is 31. Injuries have plagued both in recent seasons.

"I'll sit down with my wife and my agent and [Redskins owner Dan Snyder and coach Jim Zorn] and see what their intentions are," Jansen said. "I'm not a spring chicken, but I still have some good years left. I love playing in Washington and would like to continue to do so."

Washington said it was "a little weird" not knowing whether he would return.