Giving Carter Credit

By Mitch Gallo

Montreal Alouette fullback Kerry Carter doesn’t always get the credit he deserves.

On the offensive side of the football, the run game goes to Avon Cobourne, the aerial attack goes to a plethora of receivers and the protection of quarterback Anthony Calvillo is credited to the offensive line.

“There are a lot of things that people don’t see out there, I try to take pride in everything that I do and blocking is something I’ve tried to improve on since I didn’t do it very much before I got here,” said Carter. “It’s something that I want to improve on every single week and every single day and I think that’s an important thing for me.”


Standing on Calvillo’s right side, is Carter, a Montreal Alouette since 2007 and has been a staple with coach Marc Trestman’s offense. With that said it has been a learning curve for Carter since he entered the Canadian football league.

“It’s just about getting out there and doing it because for me I played tailback my entire career so I never did any run blocking,” said Carter. “The learning curve for me is just coming up here and trying to see where I fit in and where I can contribute. It’s not the most glorified position, you don’t get to catch touchdown passes or make a lot of runs but your teammates appreciate what you do and that’s what’s most important to have the respect of your teammates and coaches.”

Not being in the spotlight and not getting praised isn’t something that Carter is used to. He’s spent time with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent as well as with the Washington Red Skins.

During his time playing college football at Stanford he saw the ball much more often. But still, Carter knows his role with the team and feels a sense of accomplishment helping out with the protection of his quarterback.

Although fans might not notice the small things that Carter brings to the field it doesn’t go unseen with his teammates.

“"Kerry Carter is one of those guys who's the unsung hero around here, hes a leader on the team and he does the little things that keep us working," said his partner in the backfield Avon Cobourne. "We're glad we have him, he's an asset and we all feel like when he does get the ball he makes plays."

Still, with all of the praise from the coaching staff and his colleagues the Alouette fullback would like to touch to ball more often and find his way into the end zone on occasion.

The management staff with the Alouettes did recognized the intangibles that Carter brings to the field and they signed him to a contract extension in February.

“I’m hard working, dedicated and focused individual who’s trying to get better on and off the field every day,” said Carter. “I’m a student of life and I do whatever it takes to improve, I take pride in my job and everything that I do.”