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Kevin Carter Walks Away Proudly

Posted Feb 5, 2010 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Feb 5, 2010 at 12:36 PM

By IRA KAUFMAN
FORT LAUDERDALE—Class can’t be bought.

You either have it or you don’t, and Kevin Carter exudes class and dignity.

I was reminded of that fact when I ran into the former Gator standout at radio row here at the Super Bowl media center. Carter made a combined 30 starts on Tampa Bay’s defensive line in 2007 and 2008 and the Bucs won nine games in each of those seasons before declining to re-sign the versatile lineman in 2009.

It was no coincidence that the Bucs tumbled to 3-13 without the presence of leaders like Carter, Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn and Ike Hilliard in the locker room, showing the young players how a professional prepares for fall Sundays and how you conduct yourself off the field.

A year ago, Carter wasn’t quite convinced his accomplished NFL career had come to an end. But as the months went by without calls from interested clubs to his agent, Carter realized he was done.

That’s a difficult moment for any player with immense pride like Carter, Ward and Brooks.

Carter has now come to terms with playing his final game, but that doesn’t mean he’s walking away from the game he loves. He continues to be a strong voice in the NFL Players Association and he was pleased with the way new executive director DeMaurice Smith handled himself during Thursday’s news conference.

A big-time showdown is looming between the owners and the players and if Smith is wise, he will lean on calm and reasoned voices like Kevin Carter for advice during the upcoming negotiations.

Meanwhile, the Bucs are looking for the next Kevin Carter.