Rogers thought he might be a Titan

NEW ORLEANS When the Titans were on the clock in the 2005 NFL Draft, it was no secret they were interested in a cornerback.

They ended up selecting Pacman Jones with the sixth overall pick, passing on defensive backs like Antrel Rolle (8th overall to Arizona) and Carlos Rogers (9th to Washington) in the process.

Rogers, now with the 49ers and set to play in Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday, spent some time with Titans coaches leading up to that draft.

“I was thinking I would maybe end up in Tennessee,” Rogers said. “Come to find out later, some coaches in Tennessee wanted me, and a higher authority wanted Pacman. So they went with Pacman. I think his ability to play corner and be a returner maybe convinced them he was their guy.

“I thought I would go top 10, and it worked out. It would have been good because it is close to my home. I’m from Georgia so it is like a five-hour drive. But I am glad Washington picked me and I am moving on.”

Rogers was with the Redskins from 2005-10.

He joined the 49ers last season, and his play this season in San Francisco has been key on the team’s defense. Rogers wouldn’t say which coaches he heard might have wanted him in Tennessee.

But there’s one Titans coach he said he can vouch for – defensive coordinator Jerry Gray. Gray was a secondary coach with the Redskins while Rogers was with Washington.

“He is an unbelievable coach. He taught me a lot,” Rogers said. “He is like a father figure to me, on and off the field. He’s a guy who has played the game, and been a Pro Bowl player. I talk to him a lot and continue to talk to him.”

Gray’s defense allowed more points than any Titans team in franchise history in 2012. Rogers said it’s not fair to look at just the coaches when figuring out what went wrong.

“When the defense doesn’t do well, the coordinator is going to get a lot of heat,” Rogers said. “But you have to look at the players. If they don’t have the players who can perform up to the level they need to play at, it falls back to the coach and maybe that’s not fair. Jerry is a good coach.”

49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers during a Super Bowl XLVII media session this week. (Jim Wyatt | The Tennessean)



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Posted In: League News, Team News

Source: Titans Insider