Published June 23, 2008
The Charlotte Observer
By Jay Edwards
Special Correspondent
Chris Canty came to Charlotte Latin in 1999, barely 180 pounds and a high school junior.
Nearly a decade later, he returned to his alma mater as a 6-foot-7, 300-pound starting defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys.
He recently hosted his first “Chris Canty, Camp of Champions” at Latin. The camp, run by his brother Joe, boasted 148 kids, who took instruction from Canty and his Cowboy teammates, including Dallas starters Patrick Crayton, Terence Newman and Jay Ratliff.
While the kids loved the instruction from all the NFL and college players at the camp, Canty was the center of attention.
Canty, who was drafted in the fourth round in 2005 out of the University of Virginia, was called an “emerging NFL star” by the Sporting News this year. He had 43 tackles and 3.5 sacks last year for the Cowboys.
Here's what he had to say about his formative years and his career:
Q: When you were playing for Charlotte Latin, did you ever imagine you'd be playing in the NFL?
“Absolutely not. I never expected to make it to the NFL. I was 6-foot-5, 180 pounds soaking wet, and that did not seem like NFL to me at the time. So, I just wanted to get a scholarship to college and become a successful businessman at the end of the day. But I was blessed enough to have the opportunity. Coach saw that I had an opportunity to play at an elite level.
“They believed in me and I got to the University of Virginia and had some great coaching staffs there with George Welsh and Al Groh. Here I am now just trying to have this experience and give back to the kids.”
Q: Most people who see the NFL only see the season, they only see it on television. How hard do you have to work in the off-season?
“Oh, it's pretty hard. The last four weeks have been brutal... You might catch a few weeks (of rest) in February or early March, but that's about it. That's about all your off time. You've got to be training, you've got to be on top of your game because there is always somebody competing or trying to take your job.”
Q: During the season, how does that compare?
“During the season it's brutal. You have a team meeting that starts about 8:30 a.m.; I like to get there about 7:30 a.m. You lift weights, team meetings, position meeting from 9 until about 11:30 a.m., then you have lunch. Then, we're on the field from about 1 until about 3:30 p.m. After that we've got to get dressed quick and go into the meeting rooms and watch the practice film, maybe watch a little game tape from about 3:30 until 5. So, typically about 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.”
Q: Do you feel lucky to be a Dallas Cowboy?
“I think I am where I am supposed to be. When you talk about the knee injury (at Virginia) and then the eye injury (in Arizona), when you look back at it, they seem like very dramatic events, and they were. But they have somewhat shaped my career as a pro. It's made me a great player in the league. I know that the Cowboys are where I was supposed to be.”
Q: What are your goals for the next three or four years?
“Simply, my goal is to be a winner, to win. I think every player in the NFL wants to win, wants a championship ring. Obviously, when you're competing, you want to compete to be the best. I think that is definitely one of the things I want to be viewed as, is one of the most versatile defensive lineman in the NFL.”
Q: Who do you think are some of the best players in the NFL right now?
“When you talk about best players, I want to talk about difference-makers for their football team. LaDanian Tomlinson is a difference-maker. I think it was apparent in the playoff game when they played against the Patriots. He wasn't able to go, and that team just didn't have the same juice that it had had during the course of the season.
“On the defensive side of the ball, I've got to be a little partial – DeMarcus Ware (linebacker, Dallas Cowboys). Probably one of the best natural athletes I have ever seen in my life and one of the most athletically gifted. I remember the first time we got to Valley Ranch (training facility), the guy ran a 4.3 (40-yard dash) on grass in cleats. I was amazed, it was amazing. He's one of the best natural athletes, he's going to get you 15 to 20 sacks a year, and he's going to be a future hall-of-famer.”
Q: What is it like playing with a guy like Terrell Owens?
“Terrell is a great teammate. He's a pro's pro, he's a good locker room guy. He's just been great for the Dallas Cowboys, and I think, in a sense, the Dallas Cowboys have been great for him. He's rejuvenated, he's laughing all the time, and he's having fun competing in practice with all of our cornerbacks. He just has a good time, and we enjoy having him as a teammate.”
Q: What's it like playing with Tony Romo?
“I talk to Romo all the time about when he got here, he was this shy, quiet figure. Now, it's like he's ‘Tony Romo,' he's always in the tabloids, and that kind of thing. But Tony has done a great job of being able to handle the institution of being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. That's (Cowboys' quarterback) what it is, it's an institution. It's America's team. It's like playing on Broadway.”
Q: What's it like playing for Jerry Jones?
“He's a very charismatic individual. He's a great owner, great business mind. I can't say enough about him and the first-class organization that he runs, and how everybody treats each other. It's really a family atmosphere. Even though we have to deal with the business side, they do a great job of separating the two, and keeping an environment where it is great to come in and work.”
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