Nick Cross is from the DMV. He was born in Bowie, Maryland. He attended DeMatha Catholic High and then went to the University of Maryland.
After four years with the Indianapolis Colts, Cross has come back home. That was assured this spring, with a two-year, $13 million contract in free agency. The Washington Commanders acquired an every-down safety with over 1,000 snaps in each of the past two years.
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He’ll be a staple of new coordinator Daronte Jones’ system, a team leader Washington desperately needs during its ongoing get-younger-and-faster initiative. Cross talked about his homecoming during a Monday interview on Up and Adams Show with Kay Adams, among other topics. And it sure sounds like he’ll wear No. 25, despite wearing No. 20 in Indy and No. 3 at Maryland. Quan Martin has No. 20 and Will Harris has No. 3, and he’s not currently willing to part with it. (Don’t buy a jersey just yet. These number exchanges take time and money).
Here’s what else Cross revealed about this upcoming season:
On his return to the DMV
I lived and died with Washington. That was my team. I used to cry when they would lose. …They were my team through and through. It’s good to be able to come back home and play for them.
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“…Parents were excited. Everyone has been excited for me to be playing for the team I grew up rooting for. There will be a lot of eyes on me, for sure, just off the sure fact that I’m playing for the team that everybody roots for.”
What he wants Commanders fans to know about him
There’s nothing on the field I can’t do. I stop the run. People sit there and ask about coverage…I tell people that I take the ball away, too. I had four picks in the last two years, two forced fumbles, so the ball comes back to our sideline when I’m on the field. They’re getting a versatile safety, someone who can do it all, someone who can do it all and be great in the locker room, a great leader and a great teammate, someone who is going to have fun playing for the hometown team.”
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On his Clinton Portis fandom
“He was my favorite. I wanted to play running back because of him.”
“I met him in L.A. right before free agency and I let him know, like, ‘tell them I want to come home.’ He said, ‘Alright, I’ve got you.’ Then I saw him in the locker room the other day and I said, ‘See? I told you.’ He’s a great guy and a great quarterback, a great person to be around. I’m excited to see what he does this season.”
“He’s a great football player. He’s sideline-to-sideline. His 40(-yard-dash) time speaks for itself. And the tape jumps off as well. Super physical. You know I’m a big video game guy and in NCAA (Football) he’s always making picks or knocking somebody out. He’s definitely a great football player. Conversing with him over the past couple days and weeks, he’s a great person as well.
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