There shouldn't have been any questions in 2008 either as Rogers, who pushed himself furiously to get back early from two torn knee ligaments suffered in October 2007, had a Pro Bowl-level first half, shutting down such receivers as Terrell Owens and Arizona Cardinals All-Pro Larry Fitzgerald.

"Every top receiver I faced, I shut down," Rogers said. "Look at the guys in the Super Bowl. Larry Fitzgerald had 37 yards on me until we went two-deep and he caught the long ball (on safety Reed Doughty). I shut down (Pittsburgh Super Bowl MVP) Santonio Holmes until he caught that quick pass for five yards to the end zone in the fourth quarter."

But after Washington signed two-time Pro Bowl pick DeAngelo Hall in November and longtime No. 1 corner Shawn Springs returned from a calf injury, Rogers was suddenly a backup. So Rogers headed home unhappy and unsure if he wanted to remain a Redskin.

"It was never that I didn't like playing for the Redskins, but if all of us were coming back, I didn't want to be there because I would be a backup," Rogers said.

A talk with Jim Zorn on his way out the door helped, especially when the coach assured Rogers that he was going to be a starter in 2009. But that wasn't definitive until the Redskins agreed to terms with Hall minutes before the start of free agency on Feb. 27 and cut Springs later that day in order to provide the salary cap space for Hall's deal.

The ninth pick in the 2005 draft, Rogers, is looking forward to being a regular tandem with Hall, the eighth choice in 2004. Both make their offseason homes in Atlanta.

"DeAngelo's a cool guy to be around," Rogers said. "With the two of us and (Fred) Smoot, we can be one of the best."

If Rogers plays in 2009 the way he did for most of 2008, a major payday lies ahead since his contract is expiring.

"You want to perform either way, but the last year of my contract is motivation," Rogers said. "It's time for me to get some of that money that (Hall and $100 million defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth) got."