Quincy Carter, Back in the Arena League, Still Has NFL Aspirations

Last we heard of Quincy Carter, former Cowboys starting quarterback, he was in the process of officially blowing any remote chance he might have to revive his professional football career. A year ago, he was languishing in the lowest rung of the Arena Football League, af2, and that was before he was arrested for marijuana possession, his second offense in as many years.

In last weekend's Kansas City Star, Terez Paylor writes that the once headstrong Carter finally gets it. Or that's the impression, anyway. Last November, after pleading guilty to the marijuana charger, Carter met with former Cowboys linebacker Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson.

Henderson, recovered from his own substance-abuse issues, spent much of his retirement helping other athletes straighten out their lives. Knowing Carter's past, Henderson was skeptical, and for good reason.

If Carter screwed up - if he simply asked for money or showed any resistance to the path of recovery - Henderson would move on. To the golf course. Or to the next vacation.

"He surrendered, man," Henderson said. "He said, 'Tell me what you want me to do.' It choked me up. I knew I had to help this man." With Henderson's help, Carter entered rehab. Six months later, he says he's sober and has found an opportunity to return to football.

Earlier this month, Carter signed with the AFL's Kansas City Brigade, but he's yet to play a game. Instead, he works out with the practice squad hoping for a shot. That's not quite as glamorous as leading the Cowboys to the playoffs in his first season as the starter.

Still, Carter still harbors hopes of returning to the NFL, but there's a better chance Rex Grossman outplays Tom Brady and Eli Manning next season. That he's figured out all the off-field stuff seems like a much bigger deal to me.