WEIRTON — Quincy Wilson seems at home on the finely cut grass of Jimmy Carey Stadium in his hometown of Weirton, West Virginia. It would make sense for him to feel a certain sense of comfort. On this field in his senior season in high school, Wilson rushed for more than 3,000 yards and 47 touchdowns, averaging a first down nearly every time he touched the ball.

However, Wilson finds himself battling it out in a different, much larger stadium these days. Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati houses the field that Wilson currently occupies as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Wilson made the team last season largely based on his 217 yards gained in the preseason. After nearly three years of pain-staking work, he finally made his professional debut in an NFL regular season game in week four of the 2006 season against the New England Patriots.

Entering his fourth season in Cincinnati, Wilson faces the task of making a team that is deep at the running back position. With a roster that included proven NFL talents such as Rudi Johnson, Kenny Watson, and Chris Perry, Cincinnati made things even tougher for Wilson when they snagged one of the top running backs in the second round of the 2007 draft, Kenny Irons out of Auburn.

“I’m approaching this season the same way that I did last year,” Wilson said. “You just have to know that, when your number is called, you have to go out there and do the job the best that you possibly can. That is really all that you can do.”

Wilson acknowledged the challenge that was in front of him.

“I might be playing more special teams this year,” he said. “We are just loaded at the running back position. Basically, I’m just looking to break into the lineup anywhere I can and hopefully get my shot. After that, you never know what can happen for you.”

Wilson knows how hard work can pay off. After signing to play at West Viginia University in 1999, his first two years were spent playing behind a large shadow cast by established star Avon Cobourne.

In his junior season, Wilson was finally given the chance that he needed. He gained 901 yards and six touchdowns, as he began to see more time on the field to spell Cobourne.

Wilson’s senior year saw the departure of Cobourne. As a full-time starter, Wilson grabbed the attention of the nation. He rushed for over 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns. Those numbers were enough to earn him Associated Press All-America honors.

As with almost every player that plays football on its biggest stage, the transition from college star to the NFL proved to be difficult. Wilson was drafted in the 7th round (219 overall) by the Atlanta Falcons in 2004. He was cut from the Falcons in September of his rookie season and signed to Cincinnati.

Wilson says that preparation is really the biggest difference that he sees in the NFL as opposed to the college game.

“There is a lot more that goes into it than just playing,” he said. “In college, everything gets done for you as far as the gameplan is concerned. All that you basically have to do is line up and play.”

Wilson explains that, in the NFL, coaches expect much more out of you before you even step on the field.

“They ask you to learn the defenses and for the defensive guys, they have to know the offenses. It isn’t just about knowing where you are supposed to go. It is about knowing what the opponent is going to do and adjusting to that.”

Wilson explains that he enjoys the competition that he sees on the highest level.

“If everything was a cakewalk, you would lose interest and your skills would diminish,” he said. “The NFL is a different kind of grind, but I think it is enjoyable.”

Not everything in the life of an NFL player is as pleasant.

Cincinnati has been the center of attention the last couple of seasons, and not necessarily for the right reasons. Several players have had run-ins with the law. Wilson has not let the negative attention interfere with the way he approaches his daily activities.

“My style has always been to go out and do what I am told to do and to keep my nose clean,” he said. “I had a father who played in the NFL, so I learned from an early age what it is like to always have people watching you.”

Quincy’s father, Otis Wilson, played for nine seasons in the NFL. That included a stint as a starting linebacker on the vaunted 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears. Quincy Wilson explained that other players don’t have the luxury of knowing all of the pitfalls that come with a life in the NFL.

“I think a lot of guys assume when they come that everyone is going to be behind them, wanting to see them do well,” he said. “That isn’t necessarily the way that it is. You are always going to have people watching you and some of those people are waiting for you to slip up. Some players can handle off of the field situations better than others, but, in the end, we are all grown men and we are responsible for our actions.”

Newly appointed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made a clear statement when he stepped into office. In April, the Commissioner announced a new NFL Personal Conduct Policy that would levy stricter fines and suspensions for bad behavior.

“I don’t really feel like there is a fear in NFL players with the new Commissioner,” Wilson said. “I feel like it is no different than it was before with Commissioner Tagliabue. There are always going to be those players that have to be made an example of. Some people, because they have a history or because of things that happened in the past are going to face harsher punishment than others.”

Wilson has a front row seat to Commissioner Goodell’s new policy. The first two players that were hit with lofty punishments were Chris Henry and Adam “Pacman” Jones. Both were teammates of Wilson at the West Virginia University and Henry is also a member of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jones, now playing for the Tennessee Titans, has been banned from the NFL for the upcoming season and Henry must sit-out 8 games. Both violated the league’s new personal conduct policy and engaging in conduct detrimental to the league on several occasions.

Both Jones and Henry must earn the right to be reinstated.

“They are both great players,” Wilson said. “If they weren’t the great players that they are, no one would care or even notice their problems with the law. They are put under such a microscope, that it would be hard for anyone.”

Wilson still has faith that both players will be back to being productive in the NFL. He explains that, because he is now on a team with a bad reputation, it doesn’t take much to make headlines.

“The fact of the matter is, it has become a snowball effect,” Wilson said. “If I go out right now and get a speeding ticket, I’d get lumped in with everyone else.”

But, Wilson will just continue to do what he has always done, which is work hard on the field and stay out of trouble off of it. He is looking forward to a great battle in training camp.

“I enjoy the competition. It is great for me to have to bring my best effort every day because it keeps me sharp. I just wish I knew the things that I know now when I was younger.

“I’m learning new things all the time from a great staff of coaches in Cincinnati. The worst thing you can do in our game is to be content. Some people say that the NFL stands for ‘Not For Long’ and I’m going into my fourth season. I’m excited that I’m still around because there are a lot of great players that never make it at all.”

Wilson was in Weirton for the weekend for his annual football camp held Saturday at Jimmy Carey Stadium.

“We had a great turn-out,” Wilson said. We’ve got perfect weather and 125 kids from all over the Ohio Valley. The kids are enjoying themselves and having a great time.”

Wilson also hosted a celebrity basketball game Friday at Weir High School.

“It’s just been a beautiful weekend,” Wilson said. “You never really know what kind of response you are going to get, but when you get the amount of interest that we have gotten, it tells you that the community is really behind you and that people recognize when you are trying to do something to better the community.”

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