The Washington Commanders added to their secondary by signing for Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross. Here are five things to know about the defensive back.
1. He grew up as a Washington fan.
Cross is more familiar with the Commanders franchise than the rest of the team's free agency class. He was born in Bowie, Maryland, attended St. Jerome Academy in Hyattsville and played high school football at DeMatha Catholic -- just a 20-minute drive from Northwest Stadium.
And, of course, Cross bled burgundy and gold when he was a kid.
"I was a Redskins fan through and through," Cross said. "Sean Taylor and Clinton Portis were my two favorites. I wanted to play running back and safety because of those two."
Cross was expected to have a robust market heading into free agency, and the Commanders, who needed help in the secondary, were one of the bidders interested in his service. There were several factors that played into his decision, but he told local media members that it meant a lot to him that he could play "in my backyard."
And Cross used to be vocal about how much he cared about the team. In the days following the announcement that he would sign with Washington, fans went through his social media accounts and found his old posts about the team, both positive and critical. As Cross said, Washington fans are "ride or die," and he was "in the mud with them."
"I definitely lived and died with the Commanders."