If you are an Ohio State fan, you know by now that some of Michigan’s best players came from the state to the south of them. That Team Up North likes to say that the best players from Ohio know to go to Michigan, but we know the real story. Michigan’s past history wouldn’t be what it is today without utilizing the historically football talent-rich Buckeye state.
Some of those players that left Ohio to star for Michigan no doubt sting, and maybe none of them caused more pain than Fremont, Ohio native, Charles Woodson. Not only did Woodson shun the colors of Scarlet and Gray to don the Maize and Blue, but he became an All-American and Heisman Trophy winner as a defensive back that got some run on the offensive side as a wide receiver as well.
If you’ve ever wondered why Woodson left Ohio for the state of Michigan, thanks to an NFL Icons episode on MGM+, you can stop the inquiring mindset.
NFL Icons is a docuseries that explores some of the most iconic and noteworthy personalities in NFL history, detailing their lives before, during, and after football with some never before seen footage. It has featured players like Walter Payton, Brett Favre, Troy Aikman, and Emmitt Smith. There’s even a fantastic episode on former Buckeye receiver, Cris Carter that we encourage you to digest. In fact, there are three very entertaining seasons, and if you want to catch up on any of it, you can go to MGM+ and sign up to watch them all.
Season 3 has one of the episodes centered around Woodson, and if you are an Ohio State fan, you have to wonder what his career in college would have been if he landed in Columbus instead of Ann Arbor.
According to Woodson, it wasn’t really a slight towards Ohio State, but rather, his upbringing.
“It’s a very simple reason. You know, there’s really nothing complex about it … “you have to blame my older brother. You have to blame Terry. He was a Michigan fan,” Woodson said in the episode.
“And so him being my first childhood idol, that’s who I liked, Woodson continued. “To me, it didn’t make any difference that it was Ohio State and they were right there down the road from an hour and a half south of where we grew up. That was their rival, so it was — in the back of my mind, I could never really like them because they were the rival to Michigan, and that was my team.
“I was in love with that winged helmet, in love with the Maize and Blue, and so I feel like my decision was made a long time before I even made the decision.”
And there you have it.
Ohio State never really stood a chance apparently and that’s OK. We can appreciate what Woodson did in college and during his remarkable 18-year NFL career, but still not loathe those winged helmets that one of the game’s Hall of Famer’s fell in love with at an early age.
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Not many know this about Cris Carter, but now we do thanks to a documentary from NFL Films and EPIX.
Former Ohio State All-American receiver Cris Carter has been through a lot in his life. From growing up without a father to suspension and early departure from Ohio State, to his struggles off the field early in his NFL career, to say that his story is one of redemption would be an understatement.
There are plenty of Buckeye fans that know the story of Carter very well, but there are those too young to remember the NFL Hall of Famer from when he wore the scarlet and gray.
The “NFL Icons” Cris Carter Episode
But that’s OK. Thanks to the “NFL Icons” docuseries on EPIX, there’s plenty to get up to speed on. That’s because one of the eight episodes details the career and life of Carter. And, boy, is it worth a watch. It is done in partnership with NFL Films with Rich Eisen narrating, and it is both entertaining — and revealing — with some never before seen footage and behind-the-scenes moments we’ve all come to expect from NFL Films.
The Carter episode is set to air on Oct. 22, and we received a sneak peek here at Buckeyes Wire. Although Carter may be known by many more because of his Hall of Fame career in the NFL with the Eagles and Vikings, the episode goes into pretty good depth on his time in Columbus.
The Troubles at Ohio State
One of the rawest and most emotional moments deals with Carter’s unexpected early exit from Ohio State. For those of you that don’t know the story well, the Buckeyes were set up for what was expected to be a run at a national title in 1987, but it was derailed. First, by the suspension of Carter because of marijuana use early in the season. Then he was ruled ineligible after signing with an agent.
“When I got recruited to Ohio State, we had the No. 1 recruiting class, 1984. And we really thought we were gonna win a national championship,” Carter said in the documentary “I got tired of being broke. I got tired of not being able to call my mom. I got tired of just not — after the game, not being able to go get a slice of pizza.
“I really thought they were a great organization. I thought they were going to do big things. I mean, I’m not gonna sit here and act like I was naive. I know that I can’t take money from an agent, um, as long as I have eligibility. I didn’t think about my eligibility when I signed. I was thinking about my long-term career. My life, um, was totally turned upside down. Um, the relationships I had at Ohio State were ruined. And, um, it wasn’t like there was a lot of people that wanted Cris Carter associated with what they were doing at the time.”
Instead of a season of wonder under Earle Bruce, Ohio State limped to a 6-4-1 record with Bruce being fired in November.
“We were building something there together. And when I left, and not only did it alter the history of Ohio State, but it altered his career,” continues Carter. “He got fired. And I could have — I would have changed that.
“They needed my voice. And Earl lost control of the locker room. And that wouldn’t have happened. And, for me, and the decision that I made that I thought long-term was going to be best for my career it affected his career in a negative way, and I was sorry for that.”
Carter struggled with addiction with the Eagles and was let go by then-head coach Buddy Ryan. But with such great body control, hands and a desire to be the best, Carter found redemption and one of the best careers we’ve ever seen a receiver have in the league while with the Minnesota Vikings.
The Regret and Reflection
October 1985; Ohio State Buckeyes receiver Cris Carter (2) during the 1986 season. Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Despite it all though, Carter still feels badly about what he did to Ohio State and Earle Bruce. In fact, to hear him tell it, in a life that had many struggles he had to overcome, it was the one moment in his career and time on this Earth he regrets the most.
Carter went back to speak at his high school, Middletown, in 2013, and his old college coach was in attendance. He took the time to let everyone know, Bruce included, how he was sorry for how things ended in Columbus.
“I got to tell you, coach Bruce, I love you to death. And I think that you should know this,” an emotional Carter remarked. “When I let you down before my senior year and was not able to play football for the Buckeyes, that was the worst thing that ever happened to me. And I’ve never had a chance to tell you this, Coach. From the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry. I wish I could go over and do it again. And if I could, I would have played my senior year for the Buckeyes. My fate would have been different. And I believe that your fate would have been different. And for that, I am sorry. And thank you for your support, Coach.”
Underappreciated Redemption
Look, there are plenty of stories where star players get in trouble and never recover. There are plenty of things chronicled about an athlete that could never round the corner of addiction or other off-the-field troubles resulting in a waste of talent and what could have been. A story like Carter’s probably isn’t told enough, and I don’t know that he’s ever gotten enough credit for how he turned things around despite it all to become one of the greatest to ever catch passes in the history of the NFL.
And this is just a small slice of the Carter episode that was very well done and highly entertaining with nuggets of information that many just never knew. If you are an OSU fan or a fan of Carter’s it is well worth an hour or so to check out the episode.
And if you are a football fan in general, the NFL Icons series is also must-watch television. Aside from the Carter episode, the second season also goes in-depth with episodes about John Madden, Walter Payton, Jimmy Johnson, Steve Young, Ray Lewis, Troy Aikman and Tony Dungy.
But first things first, find a way to get EPIX and watch the Carter episode on Saturday, Oct. 22. You will not be sorry.
This should be well worth a watch and include never before seen video, interviews, and more on former #GoBucks great Cris Carter.
Premium cable network EPIX announced the second season of their franchise show, “NFL Icons,” on Tuesday — and there’s a former Ohio State football great that will be a part of the series brought to you by NFL Films.
Former Buckeye receiver Cris Carter, who played for the Buckeyes from 1984 through 1986, will be the focus of one of the eight episodes. The Carter episode will air on Saturday, October 22, at 10 p.m. EDT/PDT. According to a release, the production will have content that you would only expect from NFL Films.
“The feature has lots of Buckeye stories from when Cris attended Ohio State and excelled for the Buckeyes,” read a release. “The relationship with Earle Bruce is a thread throughout.
“Wide receiver Cris Carter’s winding road from a childhood in Middletown, Ohio to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton – including stops as a celebrated Ohio State Buckeye, through adversity with the Philadelphia Eagles and redemption with the Minnesota Vikings.”
Carter will forever be remembered as one of the best to play the wide receiver position in the scarlet and gray, and marrying his story up with the storytelling and wide range of archived video the folks at NFL Films possess should be well worth a watch.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter celebrates in the end zone after catching a 14-yard pass from quarterback Brad Johnson for a touchdown in the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints in Minneapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 1998. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)
The series will be narrated by award-winning broadcaster Rich Eisen and will have exclusive interviews, video, mic’d up moments, and off-the-field content you won’t see anywhere else. The first episode of the series will be a feature of the late, great, John Madden on Sept. 10, at 10 p.m. EDT/PDT.
“We are thrilled to present Season Two of NFL Iconson EPIX,“ said Michael Wright, president of EPIX. “Our partners at NFL Films are accomplished storytellers, with unprecedented access and insight into their uniquely American subject. The NFL Iconsfranchise, narrated by the incomparable Rich Eisen, is a celebration of those players and coaches who have helped define what is best about the league. NFL ICONS is a great addition to EPIX’s growing list of acclaimed and entertaining docuseries.”
To get you ready for the next season of the series, take a look at a teaser provided by the folks at EPIX.
“NFL Icons,” Season Two on EPIX, will consist of episodes focusing on the following NFL Hall of Famers:
Walter Payton (Sept. 17)
Jimmy Johnson (Sept. 24)
Steve Young (Oct. 1)
Ray Lewis (Oct. 8)
Troy Aikman (Oct. 15) Cris Carter (Oct. 22)
Tony Dungy (Oct. 29)
So set your DVR, or tune in to EPIX to have an exclusive look at many of the NFL’s icons we’ve come accustomed to watching through the history of the NFL, including — and most especially — former OSU great Cris Carter.
