- Not to be confused with Charles Rogers (American football coach), a college football head coach. For others with the same name, see Charles Rogers.
Charles Rogers (born May 23, 1981) is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons during the early 2000s. He played college football for Michigan State University, won the Fred Biletnikoff Award, and was recognized as an All-American. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions second overall in the 2003 NFL Draft, and played for the Lions for his entire professional career.
[edit] Early years
Rogers was born in Saginaw, Michigan. He graduated from Saginaw High School, and was a letterman in football, basketball, and track for the Saginaw Trojans. In football, he was a three-time all-state honoree. Rogers is the step-son of Clinton Ostah, a former minor league baseball catcher.
[edit] College career
Rogers attended Michigan State University, where he played for the Michigan State Spartans football team. He broke numerous receiving records. Rogers still holds the school records for most touchdowns in a career with 27, breaking the record held by former Spartans wide receiver Kirk Gibson, and the school record for most receiving yards in a single game with 270. He broke Randy Moss's NCAA record of 13 consecutive games with a touchdown catch. During the 2002 season, he had 68 receptions for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns, won the Fred Biletnikoff Award and Paul Warfield Trophy as the best college wide receiver in the nation, and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.
[edit] Professional career
Having been compared to Randy Moss,[1] Rogers was drafted second overall after Carson Palmer in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
Rogers caught 22 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns during his first five games of the 2003 season, before breaking his collarbone while practicing a speed drill with Dré Bly, leaving him out for the season. He was expected to come back and have a big year. However, in the third play of the 2004 season against the Chicago Bears, Rogers suffered another broken collarbone, and was once again out for the season.
During the 2005 season, Rogers was suspended 4 games for a third violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy. As a result of this violation, the Lions filed a grievance, claiming that his drug suspension violated a clause in his contract, which would mean Rogers would be obligated to return $10 million of the $14.2 million the Lions gave him in bonuses. The Detroit Free Press would later report that Rogers failed drug tests each year while at Michigan State. Citing Lions chief operating officer Tom Lewand, a report Oct. 9, 2008 stated that Rogers must repay the team around $8.5 million.[2] Upon his return from suspension, despite the fact that Rogers was deemed healthy, he played only nine games, with three starts, and was declared inactive for four games. He caught 14 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown.
On September 2, 2006, Rogers was released by the Lions. Newly hired head coach Rod Marinelli did not think Rogers' work ethic was a match for the team. After releasing him, Marinelli said, "We picked the men that are right for this football team. It's behind us."[3]
After his release, Rogers worked out for the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2006, all of whom opted not to sign him.
[edit] Personal Life and Legal Issues
He was arrested in September 2008 and charged with assault and battery of a female acquaintance and the charges were later dropped. In December 2008, Rogers was sentenced to attend sobriety court or face jail time after violating his probation. He tested positive for Vicodin. In March 2009, Rogers was jailed for violating probation.[4] On September 16, 2009, Rogers was arrested in Novi, MI for driving under the influence of alcohol after being found unresponsive behind the wheel of his car by police.[5] Rogers was arrested again in Novi, MI on January 5, 2010, having passed out after drinking at an On the Border restaurant, which was a violation of a sobriety court order,[6] and subsequently sentenced to a 93-day jail term.[7]
In August 2009, in an interview with ESPN's Jemele Hill, Rogers admitted that he'd smoked marijuana regularly. He'd tested positive for marijuana twice while at Michigan State, and a test at the NFL combine detected excess water in his system. He was so distraught over his second collarbone injury that he began smoking marijuana daily to deal with the pain. He also said he was just "really smokin'" and that was what led to his downfall in the NFL.[8]
Rogers was ordered by a judge in April 2010 to return $6.1 million of his $9.1 million signing bonus to the Detroit Lions, because his drug use violated the terms of his NFL contract.[9]
On December 3, 2011, Rogers was pulled over by Michigan State police near the intersection of Dearborn and Fayette in Saginaw. Police found some sort of open alcohol container. A post commander says they are seeking warrants. It will be up to the prosecutor to determine possible charges. Rogers was not detained and police released him.[10]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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| Persondata |
| Name |
Rogers, Charles |
| Alternative names |
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| Short description |
All-American college football player, professional football player, wide receiver |
| Date of birth |
May 23, 1981 |
| Place of birth |
Saginaw, Michigan, United States |
| Date of death |
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| Place of death |
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