By MIKE O'HARA
The Detroit News

DETROIT - Charles Rogers is feeling pretty good about his position in life, and well he should.

The view from the top of the NFL's draft board - or even from the second rung - is grand enough to make Rogers feel like a king. And with a golden touch.

Rogers, the spindly wide receiver from Saginaw and Michigan State, is only six days from a life-changing moment. A fortune, in the form of a rookie contract worth more than $30 million, is within his grasp because of his status as one of the top prospects in the NFL draft.

Rogers will be one of the invited guests at the NFL's annual talent lottery, which begins shortly after noon Saturday at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Barring the unforeseen, Rogers won't have to wait long to hear his named called. Rogers can expect to be drafted no lower than second. The Lions, who have the second pick, need his game-breaking potential in their offense.

Make no mistake about it, Rogers likes being part of the NFL's draft show with such players as quarterback Carson Palmer of Southern California, defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy of Penn State, defensive end Terrell Suggs of Arizona State and cornerback Terence Newman of Kansas State.

Hype and circumstance aside, draft day is a coming-out party and a moment to shift gears to go forward.

"This is really important, that you're at the elite level," Rogers said the other day. "You're with the best competition there is. I'm not only looking forward to it (the draft), but I'm looking forward to playing next to some of the great superstars in the NFL."

Rogers was in a good mood as he spoke about his future, and the events that have brought him to this position. He laughed often and easily, with some serious moments.

The Lions are the favorites to draft him, but a trade could change that. Rogers has a little anxiety about not knowing where he will begin his pro career, but not much. He is not consumed by the process.

"The only people who get excited about things around him are his family, and they're supposed to," said his agent, Kevin Poston of Farmington Hills. "But he knows it's supposed to be exciting."

The Cincinnati Bengals have the first pick. Next is Detroit and Houston, teams who are primed to take a receiver. Both covet Rogers.

If the Bengals keep their pick, they'll probably draft Palmer. The Lions are certain to draft Rogers No. 2, if he's on the board.

If the Texans make a deal with Cincinnati to leapfrog the Lions, Rogers will go to Houston.

In his heart, Rogers would like to play for his home-state Lions. But there are no bad draft options for him.

"I'll have a smile wherever I am," Rogers said. "I'm not going to get greedy just to be in the NFL."

Rogers and Andre Johnson of Miami are rated at the top of the draft's receiver class.

Rogers, despite playing only two seasons at Michigan State, is a shade faster, has better hands and is more instinctive than Johnson. Rogers will drop an occasional pass. But at 6-foot-2 1/2 and with the speed to run 40 yards in 4.28 seconds, he can break open a secondary.

Johnson is 6-2, weighs almost 230 pounds, and consistently runs 40 yards in under 4.4 seconds. He is not as refined in running pass patterns as Rogers. But given time to develop, he could be an imposing presence because of his size.

Where they rank will be settled soon enough.

"I'm going to be excited, but I'm also wondering where I'm going to go," Rogers said. "I'm not saying it's stress, but I've probably run out of patience.

"You just want to hear your name called, so you can get situated and settled."

Rogers was not fazed by a report that surfaced Monday - the day he visited the Lions at their Allen Park facility - that the urinalysis specimen he gave at the NFL Combine in February was diluted.

It should be noted that Rogers did not have a positive test for drugs, or a masking agent. Poston said the diluted sample was caused by drinking too much water the morning the test was administered.

Water under the bridge?

"Yeah - water under the bridge," Rogers said. "That's behind me. I'm going to go from here. I'm looking forward to April 26."

The test will not affect Rogers' draft status.

There is little doubt among NFL coaches about his ability to be an impact player early in his rookie season.

Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis was in East Lansing for Rogers' pro-day workout last month and was impressed by Rogers' speed and agility.

"He did a good job," Lewis said. "He's very fast. He's a fluid athlete. I think he had a nice showing.

"The game's not going to be too big for him. That's what you want in that guy."

Rogers, a sprint champion at Saginaw High, was not academically eligible to play his first year at MSU in 2000. He was an instant star in the two seasons he played and a model of consistency: 67 receptions and 14 touchdowns in 2001; 68 catches and 13 touchdowns in 2002.

The 2002 season disintegrated quickly for the Spartans. Quarterback Jeff Smoker was suspended from the team and entered a rehabilitation program for substance abuse. Coach Bobby Williams was fired late in the season. Williams is now a Lions assistant.

The Spartans finished with a 4-8 record. Rogers figured it was time to move to the NFL.

"There was so much turmoil," Rogers said. "And when they fired Bobby, it wasn't really a decision for me to stay. I figured I did all I could do for the university. They said I'd be a top-three selection (in the draft). If I came back another year, I wouldn't accomplish anything.

"I didn't want to be in a position like Willis McGahee."

McGahee, the star runner from Miami (Fla.), seriously injured his left knee in the Hurricanes' loss to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Rogers watched the game on television and reacted instinctively when he saw McGahee get hurt.

"I grabbed my knee," Rogers said. "I felt the pain. This kid was a top-five pick. They kept showing the replay. Even though I hadn't met him, I felt sorry for him."

Rogers enjoyed his stay at MSU.

"It was a great experience," he said. "I learned a lot. I went through a lot at MSU. I felt MSU got me prepared for the NFL. It also got me prepared for life. The campus is nice. Just the green-and-white tradition - it was great.

"A lot of kids from my city don't get to experience that college life."

Rogers has two children - Charnae, 5, and Charvez, 3. Turning pro will allow him to provide for them in a way he never experienced for himself.

"It's every important, to give them a head start in life, the nice toys, the nice clothes -- just make life a lot of easier," he said. "Only one person in the family has to go through tough times to have a great life."

Return to Bengals front page...