But the 23-year-old Redskin from Pensacola, Fla., has not let the new-found fame go to his head. He still drives a 1991 Mazda 626. He got the car his junior year of college at Florida State University.
Rookie Alfred Morris has no plans to upgrade and says he plans to pass down his ''Bentley'' to his kids. (Courtesy Redskins blog)
Courtesy Redskins blog
Alfred Morris Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris celebrates this touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Another shot of the 1991 Mazda 626 that Morris lovingly calls "Bentley." (Courtesy Redskins blog)
Courtesy Redskins blog
Alfred Morris, Robert Griffin III Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris (46) celebrates with quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) after Morris' touchdown during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Morris' hubcaps are not the customized ones you'll see on a lot of Redskins' vehicles. (Courtesy Redskins blog)
Courtesy Redskins blog
Alfred Morris Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris (46) scores a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
AP Photo/Matthew Hinton
Roman Harper, Alfred Morris New Orleans Saints strong safety Roman Harper (41) tries to tackle Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris (46) in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
WASHINGTON – Redskins running back Alfred Morris is having a good rookie season so far. During his third NFL start against the Bengals, Morris carried the ball 17 times for 78 yards and a touchdown.
But the 23-year-old player from Pensacola, Fla., has not let the new-found fame go to his head. He still drives the first car he ever bought, a 1991 Mazda 626.
Morris bought the car during his junior year of college at Florida Atlantic University. The car’s actual value of less than $1,200 is nothing compared to its sentimental value, Morris says.
“It just keeps me grounded, where I came from and all the hard work for me to get to this point. So that’s what helps me,” Morris tells the team’s official blog.
Morris affectionately calls his car “Bentley,” which is even more ironic now as it sits in the player’s parking lot in Ashburn, Va., next to expensive, luxury cars.
“My friends just teased me like, ‘Man, what are you doing in that piece of crap,’ and I’d say, ‘Oh, you talkin’ ’bout that Bentley right there,'” Morris says on the team’s blog. “The name just stuck, and eventually all my friends would be like, ‘Hey let me get a ride in the Bentley!'”
The Redskins selected Morris with the team’s sixth pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Morris signed a four-year deal worth $2,223,100 on May 7, according to the team. Of that amount, only Morris’ $123,100 signing bonus was guaranteed. It’s still likely enough to upgrade his car, but Morris isn’t interested.
“One day, my kids are going to drive that car,” Morris says on the team’s blog. “If it breaks down, I’m gettin’ it fixed. That’s just how I am.”
WTOP’s Megan Cloherty contributed to this report. Follow WTOP on Twitter.
