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ST. JEAN, Que. -- The day was dark and gloomy under a grey sky. But Quincy Carter was happy and excited, almost giddy. He was well-rested following a good night's sleep and, for the first time in close to two years, had a football practice to prepare for.
"It was a great feeling," said the 28-year-old former National Football League quarterback, attempting to salvage his career in Canada with the Montreal Alouettes. "I haven't played in about a year-and-a-half. To get out and get the juices going is a great feeling. To get on the field, back calling signals was good."
Carter is one of five players battling for the right to back up veteran Canadian Football League pivot Anthony Calvillo in Montreal. Should Carter succeed, he'll play sparingly, unless Calvillo is injured, and will earn a base salary of about $75,000. Only five years ago, after being selected in the second round of the 2001 draft by the Dallas Cowboys, he was signed to a five-year contract worth between $3.7- and $4-million US.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones anointed Carter the heir apparent to Troy Aikman the day he was drafted, and although Carter is the last quarterback to take Dallas to the playoffs, leading them to a 10-6 record in 2003, he was released less than a week into training camp the following year after failing a drug test.
Carter has admitted his use of marijuana played a role in the team's decision. And, although he signed with the New York Jets several weeks later, playing seven games, he filed a grievance against the Cowboys with the NFL players' association citing wrongful termination. The case remains unresolved.
"I did some things wrong. I don't want to make it sound like I did nothing wrong," said Carter, who didn't play in 2005. "I did fail a (drug) test. Several other plays have done so as well."
There have been things reported about Carter which he simply claims are untrue. He denies ever having tested positive for cocaine or that he suffers from a bipolar disorder. He denies having violated the NFL's substance-abuse policy more than once or that he spent a portion of last year at a Houston-based treatment centre.
"I've been blamed for a lot," he said. "Some things were said that aren't true in Dallas, and they still haven't been cleared up. I might have done some bad things . . . but there are some things people should be more aware of. I never failed a test for cocaine; that's just a rumour. So much has been written that isn't true.
"My life was very scrutinized in Dallas, but you never heard nothing about me. I didn't get a traffic ticket, I didn't get arrested. There was nothing until I was released."
Carter says he hasn't used marijuana in close to two years and, while playing for the Jets, he underwent numerous drug tests, according to his agent, Eugene Parker. He need not worry in the CFL, where no drugtesting policy exists.
"He'll be monitored from our end. Every indication is that he's on the right path," said general manager Jim Popp, who had Carter on the Als' negotiation list, giving Montreal exclusive CFL playing rights to the 6-foot-2, 226 pounder.
Popp said if a player is abusing drugs it will become apparent by his on-field performance. Also, if a player is frequently out late at night, reports of his conduct usually filter back to the GM's office.
"It's up to them to do the right things," Popp said.
How Carter will perform following a year away from the game remains to be determined, although he maintains his legs and mind are fresh, his body rejuvenated. Success in the NFL doesn't necessarily correlate into smooth sailing in the CFL, as quarterback Vince Ferragamo proved more than 20 years ago.
Carter denied his career rests on succeeding in Montreal, maintaining he can remain content as a backup.
"I was a backup my first year as a rookie. I was a backup with the New York Jets. I know how to prepare for that," said Carter, who signed with the Als for a year and an option, making him eligible to return to the NFL next winter. "My goal is to be the best backup in the CFL and the rest will take of itself.
"We all want to start, but I know my job coming in here. Let's be honest, Quincy Carter can still play."
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"It was a great feeling," said the 28-year-old former National Football League quarterback, attempting to salvage his career in Canada with the Montreal Alouettes. "I haven't played in about a year-and-a-half. To get out and get the juices going is a great feeling. To get on the field, back calling signals was good."
Carter is one of five players battling for the right to back up veteran Canadian Football League pivot Anthony Calvillo in Montreal. Should Carter succeed, he'll play sparingly, unless Calvillo is injured, and will earn a base salary of about $75,000. Only five years ago, after being selected in the second round of the 2001 draft by the Dallas Cowboys, he was signed to a five-year contract worth between $3.7- and $4-million US.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones anointed Carter the heir apparent to Troy Aikman the day he was drafted, and although Carter is the last quarterback to take Dallas to the playoffs, leading them to a 10-6 record in 2003, he was released less than a week into training camp the following year after failing a drug test.
Carter has admitted his use of marijuana played a role in the team's decision. And, although he signed with the New York Jets several weeks later, playing seven games, he filed a grievance against the Cowboys with the NFL players' association citing wrongful termination. The case remains unresolved.
"I did some things wrong. I don't want to make it sound like I did nothing wrong," said Carter, who didn't play in 2005. "I did fail a (drug) test. Several other plays have done so as well."
There have been things reported about Carter which he simply claims are untrue. He denies ever having tested positive for cocaine or that he suffers from a bipolar disorder. He denies having violated the NFL's substance-abuse policy more than once or that he spent a portion of last year at a Houston-based treatment centre.
"I've been blamed for a lot," he said. "Some things were said that aren't true in Dallas, and they still haven't been cleared up. I might have done some bad things . . . but there are some things people should be more aware of. I never failed a test for cocaine; that's just a rumour. So much has been written that isn't true.
"My life was very scrutinized in Dallas, but you never heard nothing about me. I didn't get a traffic ticket, I didn't get arrested. There was nothing until I was released."
Carter says he hasn't used marijuana in close to two years and, while playing for the Jets, he underwent numerous drug tests, according to his agent, Eugene Parker. He need not worry in the CFL, where no drugtesting policy exists.
"He'll be monitored from our end. Every indication is that he's on the right path," said general manager Jim Popp, who had Carter on the Als' negotiation list, giving Montreal exclusive CFL playing rights to the 6-foot-2, 226 pounder.
Popp said if a player is abusing drugs it will become apparent by his on-field performance. Also, if a player is frequently out late at night, reports of his conduct usually filter back to the GM's office.
"It's up to them to do the right things," Popp said.
How Carter will perform following a year away from the game remains to be determined, although he maintains his legs and mind are fresh, his body rejuvenated. Success in the NFL doesn't necessarily correlate into smooth sailing in the CFL, as quarterback Vince Ferragamo proved more than 20 years ago.
Carter denied his career rests on succeeding in Montreal, maintaining he can remain content as a backup.
"I was a backup my first year as a rookie. I was a backup with the New York Jets. I know how to prepare for that," said Carter, who signed with the Als for a year and an option, making him eligible to return to the NFL next winter. "My goal is to be the best backup in the CFL and the rest will take of itself.
"We all want to start, but I know my job coming in here. Let's be honest, Quincy Carter can still play."
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