RAW: One-On-One With Quincy Carter
By: Michelle Dapper
Updated: March 13, 2009
Dapper: First, I want to say welcome to Abilene. What were you thoughts when you came to the city?
Carter: To be honest with you, I was very grateful to get another opportunity to play football...especially after running myself into a little trouble a couple weeks ago. So, I'm just grateful for this opportunity and I intend of taking full advantage of it.
Dapper: Now I know people around here haven't seen you play in awhile. Would you say you still have it?
Carter: I would say that. I've never let anyone be the judge of that anyway. The only thing I can do is go out and show you. I'm a little modest, but I can tell you I can still throw it around a little bit.
Dapper: Your past problems have been well documented. Would you say that's behind you? Are you putting that in the past?
Carter: The only thing I can do is work on it day to day. If I was to tell you two weeks fresh out of getting myself in trouble, that everything is behind me now then I'd probably be lying to you. I'm a pretty straight up and honest guy. I'm going to do everything possible to take care of this situation and that's the only thing I can tell you.
Dapper: What do you think you can bring to the Ruff Riders?
Carter: I think I can bring some leadership and experience. I've played arena league football in Shreveport back in 07. I played 3 or 4 games with the Kansas City Brigade just this past year. So, I bring a little arena experience with me and also my leadership.
Dapper:What's the difference between arena football and the NFL. Clearly, it's indoors but would you say on an intensity level?
Carter: The intensity level is pretty much the same. But from a quarterback's standpoint, you have to get rid of the ball a lot quicker. You have to read your reads a lot quicker than you would on the big field. You know, it's still football. To me, I just love the game of football.
Dapper: I've seen you work out with the guys. What excites you about this group?
Carter:I love football. I love getting out there and practicing. I haven't had the opportunity to practice with everybody. In training camp, we'll have our full roster. There are a lot of guys out there. Mike Carrillo, one of our receivers, he had a great mini-camp. I've had the chance to look at a couple linemen who've shown some promise. I love football so much and it's just great to get back out there and play again.
Dapper: What can the younger guys learn from your experiences?
Carter: Good and bad. I'm a perfectionist. I love to practice. I love to get out there and compete because if you don't get out there and practice there's no way you can turn that over to a game. Also, from a bad standpoint...the mistakes I've made in life. A lot of the guys can learn how to do the right things...how to carry yourself...so good and bad; I think I bring a lot of experience to this team.
Dapper: You've played with some good teams: the best team, the Dallas Cowboys...and the not so good. As a starting quarterback, what do you bring as far as experience?
Carter: Just having that name, the Dallas Cowboys and that star on your helmet brings the pedigree. I think from some of the guys watching me from over the years and how excited I get about football and how I love the game can help out a lot. With saying all that, I still have to lead by example and show the guys. You can have a big name, but I still have to lay it out on the line so these guys can see what I'm all about.
Dapper: Does that add a lot of pressure for you?
Carter: (laughing) No, I love pressure. When I got to Dallas in '01, people said I couldn't throw a spiral and I'd never be the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. Hey, I spent three years there being the quarterback and starting every year. The question you asked before: do I still have it? That burns a fire in me too. I love pressure. I love when people doubt me. I really do.
Dapper: Ever think about returning to the NFL?
Carter: Everyday I do. I've put myself behind the 8 ball a little bit so it would be much harder. The only thing I can do it take it a day at a time and learn from my mistakes. I'll play these fourteen games here...possibly a little bit further going into the playoffs. Hopefully, we get to the August 8 championship game. It's a big dream of mine still, but like I said, I put myself behind the 8 ball a little bit. I'll take it day-by-day and see what happens.
Dapper: Why should people come out and watch Quincy Carter?
Carter: It's not all about me. It's all about our football team. I'm a little modest, but I definitely think I still have it. That's a hard question for me to answer.
Dapper: Okay, why should we watch the Ruff Riders play?
Carter:I think we're going to be a very exciting football team. We have a very good head coach in Coach Dockery. We have a very enthusiastic defense coordinator. Coach Clark and I have already been going at it. We have some good young talent. I understand Coach Dockery has a lot of other good receivers coming in...and good defense backs. We've got a lot of talent. We've been working hard. I'm excited and I think that's why everyone else should be excited too.
Dapper: Quincy, thanks for joining me and good luck this season!
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