Rogers' baptism by fire
Rick Stroud, The St.Petersburg Times, published 30 September 1991

In a strange twist of events for even the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, their most valuable player from a year ago was back at home in Tampa while a player who has yet to be in his new city was replacing him on the field. Wayne Haddix was injured, but he was hurting the Bucs well before he pulled a hamstring muscle Thursday in practice. The coaching staff decided to replace him in the starting lineup with a rookie, Glenn Rogers, who was burned on several pass plays Sunday during the Bucs' 31-3 loss to the Detroit Lions at the Pontiac Silverdome.

By the end of the afternoon, Carl Carter, who just joined the Bucs on Saturday, was playing right cornerback. Haddix, a holdout for most of training camp, did not make the trip because of the injury. Apparently, it wouldn't have mattered had he been healthy. "He hasn't made the plays," Steve Shafer, the Bucs' secondary coach, said of Haddix. "I'm looking for somebody who can play right corner. He's not making the kind of plays that you've got to make to win."

Haddix, who said he was told Wednesday he would not start, echoed Shafer's comments. "I, myself, haven't been happy with the way I've played, but, when you're losing, things don't get overlooked as much as when you're winning," Haddix said. "Whether I deserve to be benched, I don't know. Needless to say, I was shocked. I was struggling, but I thought I was getting better."

Even though Rogers played only half the game, it was a long day for the first-year player from Memphis State. He found himself on the bench by halftime. "I was expecting it," said Rogers, who signed with the Bucs as a free agent. "They're looking at film. With me being a rookie and my first time starting, I expected them to come my way."

They did on the third play of the game. With Rogers covering, quarterback Rodney Peete completed a 21-yard pass to receiver Willie Green. Later, Green caught a 26-yard touchdown pass, giving the Lions a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. On the drive to Detroit's third touchdown, Green caught a 22-yard pass from Peete on a third-and-11 at the Lions' 13. Later in the drive, Green was interfered with by Rogers at the goal line. That gave the Lions a first down, and Barry Sanders scored on the next play. Green had three catches for 66 yards and a touchdown, all on Rogers. "It seems like every time I make a play on a ball, something bad happens," Rogers said.

Rogers, who was upset with the interference call, argued and threw his helmet to the sideline. He was replaced in the second half by Carter, who flew from Cincinnati to Detroit on Saturday. The Bucs got him on a waiver claim from the Cincinnati Bengals, who on Friday attempted to activate Carter. Carter was put on injured reserve before the regular season, which meant he could not play for the Bengals this year unless he cleared waivers. "I had a crash-course Saturday night," said Carter, a sixth-year player from Texas Tech. "They told me I would probably play some. You just have to go out there and do the best you can."

He did. But by then, it was too late.