[Philadelphia Eagles News]

Ten years ago, James Thrash was fresh out of college and hoping to make it in the NFL.

His hopes were dashed in a hurry. The Philadelphia Eagles cut Thrash before training camp even started.

"I was shocked," Thrash said. "I thought everybody got to go to training camp."

One semester shy of getting his criminal justice degree, Thrash understandably considered pursuing another career.

"I was thinking FBI, CIA, something like that," Thrash said.

But the Washington Redskins were thinking something else -- they called Thrash and gave him a shot to make the team in 1997. So started an NFL career that continues to this day.

Thrash, in his second stint with the Redskins after spending three seasons with the Eagles, has carved out a niche for himself as a reliable special teams player and an occasional threat at wide receiver. He visited Frederick on Monday to speak at the Frederick County Christian Eagles football team's fundraiser banquet at the Maranatha Community Church of God, where Thrash also signed autographs.

Thrash isn't the kind of player who pops up on the highlight reel every week. But he is the kind who manages to defy the odds.

The Frederick News-Post Online - Frederick County Maryland Daily Newspaper