More Carter

New Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter was back in Minnesota last week for some greetings and congratulations. He bounced around from press conferences, radio shows and podcasts. He was likely running around as much last week as he ever did on the football field. It's a fine time for Carter right now. He waited six years for a call from Canton when he never should have waited at all. Despite those years of frustrations Carter is basking in the Hall of Fame glow now.

Cris Carter's career didn't really take off until he arrived in Minnesota in 1990. He nearly killed any chance of football success during his three years with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was a problem player with off the field demons. His immense football talent amounted to nothing on this destructive path. With some help in Minnesota he got off that path. He immediately turned his football career around. He finally put in the work that would match his talent. His new work ethic was inspired by his desire to be the best. He wanted to be the best conditioned player on the team. That wouldn't just happen with Herschel Walker there. Carter had to work. He did. When Roger Craig joined the Vikings, Carter told him that he wanted to be better than Craig's former teammate, Jerry Rice. Craig said that he had no chance. He said that Carter had the natural ability but he had to work as hard as Rice. Carter did. His workouts were motivated by a desire to be better than Rice. Carter's workouts became legendary. He started an offseason program that would draw players from around the league. Carter's workouts nearly killed Randy Moss on that dynamic receiver's first day. Cris Carter's work ethic led to eight Pro Bowl with five different quarterbacks throwing him the football. That's a far cry from the two Hall of Fame quarterbacks that threw to Rice.

Since I first saw him play for Ohio St., the aspect of Cris Carter's game that most appealed to me was his hands. Best I've ever seen. Of his hands Carter said, "I catch everything that other guys catch and I catch a few that no one catches." There were more than a few. He caught a lot that no one esle could catch. His pass catching should be required viewing of every kid that ever wants to play receiver.

"I believe in catching the football. I don't believe in dropping it."
     -Cris Carter, Hall of Fame receiver