SANTA CLARA –
The hands in question belonged to Carlos Rogers.
They hid underneath the cornerback’s armpits as he answered a group of reporters’ questions this afternoon. They were hiding because he spoke with his arms folded across his chest.
Rogers’s hands are his biggest source of criticism. His former team, the Washington Redskins, did not resign him because they didn’t like his hands. They thought he dropped too many sure interceptions.
A few minutes into the group interview, the fearless Eric Branch asked Rogers the question that was on all of our minds.
BRANCH: People get on you about your hands. Is that fair criticism?
As Rogers paused to think it over, he unsheathed his infamous mitts. Here’s what he had to say about them.
ROGERS: I don’t think it’s fair. I have dropped some balls and I’m hard on myself about that. Gregg Williams always told me if you don’t catch it, make sure the receiver doesn’t catch it. I think I’ve done a good job my whole career. If I didn’t catch the ball, my receiver wasn’t making plays, wasn’t scoring touchdowns. That’s my whole thing – make sure I’m tackling, make sure my man doesn’t catch that ball. In Washington it was so critical that the defense get turnovers because our offense wasn’t as powerful and as strong, so when you miss those opportunities it’s big on the defensive side.”
As he defended his hands he spoke with them for the first time, gesturing and waiving them in the air. He displayed them proudly to all.
When the interview was over he thanked each writer individually and gave them a firm handshake.
His hands are bigger and stronger than mine, for what it’s worth.
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