The Commanders released one of my favorite players Friday.
Rather than waiting until June 1, the Commanders released center Chase Roullier now to give him more time to catch on with another NFL team.
The former Wyoming Cowboy quietly came to the Redskins virtually an unknown, not being drafted until selection No. 199 in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL draft.
It didn’t matter to Roullier that 198 players had been drafted ahead of him. None of this vocal barking about a chip on his shoulder. None of that silly talk of how the league messed up not drafting him earlier.
Roullier simply prepared for his opportunity and was ready when opportunity knocked. In college he had majored in engineering, so there was no time to waste. Get the work done, be prepared for the next class, and work hard in practice. Roullier had gone to college to actually earn his degree on time. Studying engineering there were many long days and nights.
While some NFL rookies are out spending money, dressing loudly, and talking loudly about what they are going to do and how they are going to succeed in the NFL, Roullier kept his mouth shut and let his play do his talking for him.
Here’s 68 seconds of Chase Roullier moving people in the run game. Time to give the big man some more love and some more money pic.twitter.com/dk47v8VYbU
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) December 15, 2020
Midway through his rookie 2017 season, starting center Spencer Long was injured. Roullier had worked hard in preparation and was ready when baptized by fire. He started seven games and kept the job.
Roullier then displayed more progress, growth and maturity, starting 16, 14 and 16 games in his next three seasons, earning a contract extension.
Others on the line had bigger names, bigger contracts, but Roullier had been the most reliable and effective offensive lineman for Washington from 2018-2020.
Then a broken leg in a 2021 game at Denver ended his season. Last season, in only the second game of 2022, Roullier again went down with another season-ending leg injury.
So today is a reminder again that the NFL is first a business.
Most likely there will be no statement from Roullier. He won’t be on Twitter whining about how he is the victim. He won’t be crying, making excuses about why he was released today.
Chase Roullier, not a needy guy looking for the fan base to tell him how wonderful he is. No, he is secure enough to look out for others less fortunate than himself and see how he can be used to serve them. Consequently he has been a supporter of the Hogfarmer’s Charitable Foundation.
I will miss Chase Roullier being a member of my favorite NFL team. I wish him nothing but the best.