Dominique Reshard Rodgers-Cromartie (born April 7, 1986) is an American football cornerback for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Tennessee State University. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the 16th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Rodgers-Cromartie has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
Early years
Rodgers-Cromartie is of Haitian descent born with a non-functioning kidney that was removed when he was 8 years old. However, this early setback at a young age did not stop Rodgers-Cromartie from playing football as he attended Lakewood Ranch High School where he was an All-Area, All-Class 5A, and All-District 11 defensive back and wide receiver. During his sophomore year, he attended Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando, Florida. He was named the most underrated prospect in the state of Florida by the High School Recruiting Report and Lakewood Ranch became the fourth high school he attended and the first where he received playing time. While at Lakewood Ranch, he also competed as a jumper and sprinter on the school's track team. He is also member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
Round 1 Bowling Lakewood Video
College career
While attending Tennessee State University, he played for the Tennessee State Tigers football team for 2004 to 2007. He showed exceptional shutdown ability and displayed the natural hands needed to excel as an interceptor. He also excelled as a kickoff returner and saw action as a wide receiver during his senior campaign.
In 39 starts for the Tigers, opposing quarterbacks completed just 55 of 161 passes (34.16%) thrown in Rodgers-Cromartie's immediate area. He intercepted 11 of those throws, deflected 25 and held the opposition to a minuscule 3.54 yards per pass attempt, the best of any collegiate defensive back over the last three seasons.
Track and field
In addition to football, Rodgers-Cromartie was also a standout performer for the Tennessee State University track team. Despite juggling football spring drills with the indoor and outdoor track seasons in 2007, he qualified for the NCAA Mid-East Regionals after he captured the Ohio Valley Conference long jump title, with a mark of 7.71 meters. In only his second outdoor event, he was named OVC Male Athlete of the Week after finishing third at the Penn Relays with a conference-best long jump of 7.56 meters.
During the OVC Indoor Track Championships, Rodgers-Cromartie was named the top male athlete with a sensational performance. He won the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.89 seconds, long jump with a mark of 7.71 meters and high jump with a mark of 2.07 meters and finished second in the triple jump with a mark of 14.83 meters. What made those finishes even more impressive was the fact that he performed most of the indoor season while nursing an ankle sprain. He also competed in the 100 meters, posting a career-best time of 10.75 seconds while he was at Lakewood Ranch High School.
Professional career
2008 NFL Draft
Early on, Rodgers-Cromartie's draft stock was considerably low, as many questioned the level of competition he faced during his college years and because of his lack of technique. However, Rodgers-Cromartie impressed scouts during Senior Bowl week, performing very well during the arranged practices, and was named Defensive MVP for the game. Also the quickness he displayed with a 4.29 sec 40-yard dash at the NFL combine led to comparisons to Fabian Washington.
Arizona Cardinals
Rodgers-Cromartie was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round (16th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. On July 25, 2008, he signed a five-year, $15.1 million contract with the team that included $9 million guaranteed. He wore number 29. Rodgers-Cromartie was named the starting nickelback for the 2008 season, behind starters Roderick Hood and Eric Green. In Week 11 against the Seattle Seahawks, Rodgers-Cromartie recorded 2 interceptions off Matt Hasselbeck, the second interception securing a Cardinals 26-20 victory. In Week 14 vs. the St. Louis Rams, Rodgers-Cromartie returned a late fourth quarter interception 99 yards for a touchdown, ensuring a Cardinals victory and subsequent Division Championship title. In the 2008 Wild Card Playoff Game between the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons, Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted a pass from Matt Ryan (Arizona Cardinals Vs. Carolina Panthers), Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted a pass from Jake Delhomme in the red zone during the second quarter. Rodgers-Cromartie would help the Cardinals reach the Super Bowl for the first time in Franchise History after they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 32-25 in the NFC Championship game. In Super Bowl XLIII, Rodgers-Cromartie had 5 tackles, but the Cardinals lost 27-23 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Rodgers-Cromartie recorded 50 tackles and six interceptions in the 2009 NFL regular season and was selected as a reserve to the 2010 Pro Bowl. He did not participate in the game due to an injury sustained in the divisional round playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Philadelphia Eagles
On July 28, 2011, Rodgers-Cromartie was traded, along with a second round pick, to the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Kevin Kolb. He was assigned #23. He registered zero interceptions in his first season with the Eagles, playing mostly the nickel position, a position he has not been accustomed to playing early in his career. His play stepped up considerably in the last 4 games of the year.
On August 17, 2012, Rodgers-Cromartie was fined $21,000 for hitting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich in the head and neck during the preseason.
Denver Broncos
On March 13, 2013, Rodgers-Cromartie signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Denver Broncos. He was assigned number 45, which he wore at Tennessee State.
In his second game as a member of the Broncos, Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted Eli Manning in the closing seconds of the first half, in a win against the New York Giants. In week 8, Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted Kirk Cousins, and took it 75 yards for a touchdown in a 45-21 win against the Washington Redskins. His first two interceptions were against NFC East teams. His third interception came against Matt Schaub and the Houston Texans in week 16, in a 37-13 win.
Rodgers-Cromartie would help the Broncos reach Super Bowl XLVIII after they defeated the New England Patriots 26-16 in the AFC Championship game. In the Super Bowl, Rodgers-Cromartie had 1 tackle, but the Broncos lost 43-8 to the Seattle Seahawks.
Rodgers-Cromartie finished his only season with the Broncos with 31 tackles and three interceptions.
New York Giants
On March 17, 2014, Rodgers-Cromartie signed a five-year deal with the New York Giants. The contract is worth $35 million, with $11.98 million guaranteed.
On September 21, 2014, Rodgers-Cromartie recorded three tackles and an interception against the Houston Texans. He recorded his first interception of the season (20th career), picking off Ryan Fitzpatrick and returning it for 10 yards. On December 7, 2014, Rodgers-Cromartie recorded an interception against the Tennessee Titans. He recorded his second interception of the season (21st career), picking off Zach Mettenberger and returning it 36 yards for a touchdown. The touchdown was nullified by an unnecessary roughness penalty on the play. In the 2014 season, Rodgers-Cromartie had 38 total tackles and two interceptions while also having 12 pass deflections.
On June 9, 2015, Rodgers-Cromartie changed to jersey number to #41, giving #21 to Landon Collins. This was his fifth time changing his number in his career.
On October 25, 2015, Rodgers-Cromartie recorded two tackles, two interceptions, and a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys. He picked off Matt Cassel twice, returning one 58 yards for a touchdown, and the other one for 12 yards. He recorded his 22nd and 23rd career interceptions, the last time he recorded two interceptions in a single game was in 2012 against Brandon Weeden and the Cleveland Browns. He recorded his sixth career touchdown, his last touchdown was in 2013 against Kirk Cousins and the Washington Redskins. On November 1, 2015, Rodgers-Cromartie recorded six tackles and an interception against the New Orleans Saints. He recorded his 24th career interception, picking off Drew Brees and returning it two yards. In Rodgers-Cromartie's second season with the Giants he had a career high 58 tackles. Rodgers-Cromartie also had two forced fumbles, three interceptions and 13 pass deflections. On January 26, 2016, he was named to his second Pro Bowl, replacing New England Patriot's Malcolm Butler.
On October 23, 2016, Rodgers-Cromartie recorded four tackles and two interceptions against the Los Angeles Rams. He recorded his 25th and 26th career interceptions, picking off Case Keenum twice, catching both in the endzone for touchbacks. He recorded his fifth multi-interception game of his career. On December 18, 2016, Rodgers-Cromartie recorded seven tackles and an interception against the Detroit Lions. He recorded his third interception of the season (27th career), picking off Matthew Stafford in the endzone for a touchback. On December 22, 2016, Rodgers-Cromartie recorded two tackles and an interception against the Philadelphia Eagles. He recorded his fourth interception of the season (28th career), picking off Carson Wentz for no gain. His last interceptions were against Kirk Cousins and the Washington Redskins twice to win the game. He recorded his 30th of his career and 6th of the season.
NFL statistics
Personal life
He is the cousin of cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie & Marcus Cromartie, and safety Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith. His father Stanley was also a former assistant basketball coach at Bethune Cookman.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
EmoticonEmoticon