The Washington Redskins
With Ki-Jana Carter
Redskin Running Back
Friday, Dec. 7, 2001; 1:30 p.m. EST

Can the Redskins get back on track after their disheartening loss to Dallas last Sunday? Does the team have what it takes to make the playoffs?

Washington Redskins running back Ki-Jana Carter was online to talk about the team, his career and the upcoming game against the Arizona Cardinals.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Ki-Jana Carter: Hi this is Ki-Jana Carter and I am looking forward to your comments.

Suitland, Md.: Hi, Kijana,

I knew you at Penn State, and you rocked the house there; all the Penn State folks knew that you would go on to something glorious in the NFL.

You had your injuries, and I thought you had disappeared from the football scene, when suddenly you resurface in my backyard! I have to say I'm elated, and I wish you nothing but the best.

I guess my question for you would be about your journey back from injury. It must have been tough, to go from collegiate glory to being sidelined. What exactly happened to you, and how did you handle it? Who gave you support when you really needed it?

Glad to see you back.

Ki-Jana Carter: I think that the biggest people to help me out was my mother, who would always send me inspirational messages telling me to stay positive. When I was going through tough times she always helped. Also my best friend who lives with me down in Florida, Ray, he would get me up and make sure that I would work out. He helped me get ready too.

Burke, Va.: Mr. Carter,
Congratulations on your return to the NFL, and a big thanks goes out for your ability to help this team win. I am in college right now, and I have scored touchdowns when I played high school football and they felt great, but please describe the feeling you get as you crossed the plane scoring your first touchdown of your comeback in such a huge game for your team at such a crucial time against the division leading Eagles. I can imagine the feeling is close to ecstacy. Thanks, and keep holding it down for the SKINS!

Ki-Jana Carter: Thanks a lot for the support. I can't really describe it. I didn't know what to do when I got in there. I didn't know if I should spike it or do a dance or whatever. You have to remember that I hadn't been in the endzone in a while.

Miami, Fla.: Ki-jana, I remember we went on a trip to Venezuela a few years back (Isla Margarita), I believe you were at the beginning of your career then, or close to it, it was a good time, but what happens in margarita, stays in margarita, right.

On to Football: How do you think joining the Redskins will help revive your career, and how long do you plan on staying with the Redskins? Besides that, Happy to have you as a Skin, and Good Luck for the rest of the season and your career.

Ki-Jana Carter: Thank you,. Glad to hear from someone down in Florida.

I signed a one year deal with the Redskins and I am just elated that I have gotten a chance to play again. Once you take things for granted you tend to loose focus on what is in front of you so I am just trying to take it one day at a time.

Leesburg, Va.: Ki-Jana,

What would you tell a high school running back who is interested in Penn State?

Ki-Jana Carter: Go there.

I can only speak from my experience. I am from a suburban town outside of Columbus Ohio. I didn't want to go to a big city school. That is why I liked Penn state. Everyone got a long with each other and everyone mingled. That is what I was looking for. And also, Coach Paterno sold it for me at the end. He really groomed me for the real world. His track record speaks for itself.

Alexandria, Va.: Hi Ki-Jana,
Love your speed. Hope you get more time this game. Is Marty thinking about some new offensive strategies in the passing section? Best of Luck.

Ki-Jana Carter: I don't want to disclose all that!

What we did this week was look at the things that went wrong against Dallas and correct them for Arizona.

Manassas, Va.: Hello Ki-Jana, great to have you here in D.C. Chicago may have the "A Train" but we 'skins fans have the "K Train". Quick question: How instrumental have coaches Hue Jackson & Jimmy Raye been with your succesful return to the NFL?

Ki-Jana Carter: I give a lot of credit to both , but especially to Coach Jackson. Jackson was the first person to introduce himself to me and he is a players coach. He will joke with you when it is time and get you ready when it is time to work. He has a lot of knowledge of the game and he tries to put me in the best situation and I try to learn from them.

Corpus Christi, Tex.: Why can't we beat the Cowboys?

Ki-Jana Carter: This year, we had a couple of plays that we could have made that we didn't do. It really effected the outcome. It is frustrating because we felt like we were prepared. But you really can't really let that wear on you. We need to look at what we did and correct the mistakes for the next game. The other team doesn't care what happened to you your last game.

Malmφ, Sweden: Ki-Jana, coming from Penn State how much has it upset you hearing fair weather fans, bashing Paterno?

Ki-Jana Carter: It is sad, but that is the nature of the game. Everybody's motto is what have you done for me lately. Look what is happening with Jordan. I am proud of Paterno because he knew what had to be done and he did it.

San Diego, Calif: Ki-Jana,

Ever since pre-season you have shown that you have come not only to play, but to play at a very high level. The same kind of domination you showed at Penstate. Speaking on behalf of a Redskin fan that has been a Ki-Jana fan for a long time, we want you back next year. Would you be comfortable spelling Steven Davis here and there and being the featured 3rd down back for the Redskins? or do you feel like you need to be the number one guy somewhere else? Keep running hard Ki-Jana... Your the man!

Ki-Jana Carter: I appreciate all of the gratitude and the fan support I am getting. Right now I am not really worried about what happens next year. I feel I have a good relationship with people here and I love it, but we are going to have to worry about itself after the season.

Rockville, Md.: Ki-Jana,
What specifically, besides staying healthy, must the Skins do to win 4 or 5 straight to get to the playoffs? Assumming we get there, how deep can we go?

Ki-Jana Carter: Only time can tell that. What we need to do is prepare. We have to try to stay level headed even though we are going to get confident. We need to remember what got us here and stay focus.

Once we get to the playoffs it is a whole different game. I have never gotten there, so I am speaking without experience, but it is a different ball game. Everyone is fighting for the Super Bowl.

Clearwater, Fla.: Ki-Jana,
What do you feel the team's biggest weakness is?

Ki-Jana Carter: Right now just getting our confidence back. Winning is contagious and so is loosing. Since we had a loss last week we need to stay focused and make sure that everyone keeps a positive mind.

Rockville, Md.: I have had reconstructive knee surgery from playing ball, when sprinting my third and fourth step are much slower than before the surgery. You seem to have your explosiveness back, do you feel your knee is 100 percent back from how it was in college? Looks that way to me!

Ki-Jana Carter: Yes I do. I have been blessed to be able to come back at the same level. The biggest thing about my surgery was that I knew eventually my body would heal itself. I really just had to train my mind to accept my body and not worry about my knee. Once I got over that little barrier everything was fine.

James Madison University, Va.: What was up with that dance you did in the endzone? Can we look forward to seeing that in the future?

Ki-Jana Carter: Hopefully yes. The dance -- I don't know. A couple of my "choreographers" on the team have been helping me, so I am hoping it will be better next time and less people laugh at me.

Ki-Jana Carter: I have a meeting I have to get to, but I appreciate everyone's gratitude. Thank you for supporting the Redskins and please keep it up in the future.

washingtonpost.com:

That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the discussion.

Stay tuned to Live Online:

Politics: Charles Babington at 2 p.m. EST
Remembering Pearl Harbor at 2:30 p.m. EST
Nightwatch: Eric Brace at 3 p.m. EST
Live Online Special Coverage: America At War

Did you know that you can follow more than one Live Online discussion at the same time? Just open another browser window and toggle back and forth between discussions! And, if you miss one, catch up with the Live Online transcripts.

Keep up with the latest in news, sports, politics and entertainment with washingtonpost.com e-mail newsletters.

NEW! Personalize your Post with mywashingtonpost.com. Get customized news, traffic, weather and more.

   |      |