[tryfuhl]

“We were 6-2 in our first 8 games, and it was Carlos this and Carlos that. I was playing really good.” Rogers was referring to the first 8 games of the 2008 season under ex-head coach Jim Zorn and with Blache running the defense.

“Then in the 2nd Half – we bring in D-Hall and (Shawn) Springs gets healthy — and me and Smootie (Fred Smoot) get pushed back. We were carrying the team!”

Rogers described how they gave up on Smoot in the Giants game at home on a sloppy day, and even though he was matching up and shutting down top receivers, eventually the decision was made to remove Rogers from the starting lineup.

“They didn’t even tell me,” Rogers said. “Jerry (Gray) had told me they were thinking about a change, but I was practicing with the 1’s, I warmed up with the 1’s that day (in Cincinnati) and then they told me in the tunnel.”

Rogers said he had an ally in Gray, who always fought for his guys. “Jerry said he went to Coach Zorn and Blache, and told them they were making dumb moves.” Gray is now in Seattle, Springs spent last year in New England and Blache is retired but to close the book on Zorn’s first year, Rogers simply said “Everyone knew Springs was Blache’s boy.”

heard stuff like that happened all too often