Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Rodgers-Cromartie in the 2013 preseason.
No. 45     Denver Broncos
Cornerback
Personal information
Date of birth: (1986-04-07) April 7, 1986
Place of birth: Bradenton, Florida
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Weight: 193 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: Bradenton (FL) Lakewood Ranch
College: Tennessee State
NFL Draft: 2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16
Debuted in 2008 for the Arizona Cardinals
Career history
Arizona Cardinals (2008–2010) Philadelphia Eagles (2011–2012) Denver Broncos (2013–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
3× First-team All-OVC (2005–2007) FCS All-American (2007) Senior Bowl South Defensive MVP (2008) Pro Bowl (2009) NFC Champion (2008) AFC Champion (2013)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2013
Tackles 246 Quarterback sacks 1.0 Interceptions 19 Forced fumbles 3 Touchdowns 5 Stats at NFL.com

Dominique Reshard Rodgers-Cromartie (born April 7, 1986) is an American football cornerback for the Denver Broncos 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.

Early years

Rodgers-Cromartie attended Lakewood Ranch High School where he was an All-Area, All-Class 5A and All-District 11 defensive back and wide receiver. 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.

Rodgers-Cromartie was born with a non-functioning kidney that was removed when he was 5 years old.^[1] He is of Haitian descent.^[2] He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

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 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 name 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 personal best of 10.85 seconds while at Bradenton (FL) Lakewood Ranch

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.^[3][4] Also the quickness he displayed with a 4.29 sec 40-yard dash at the NFL combine led to comparisons to Fabian Washington.^[5]

Arizona Cardinals (2008-2010)

Rodgers-Cromartie was drafted by the Cardinals in the first round (16th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. On July 25, he signed a 5-year, $15.1 million contract with the team that included $9 million guaranteed. Rodgers-Cromartie was named the starting nickelback for the 2008 season, behind starters Roderick Hood and Eric Green. In Week 11 vs. 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 intended for wide receiver Roddy White. This helped secure the first playoff home win for the Arizona Cardinals since 1947. The next week, in the divisional round (Arizona Cardinals Vs. Carolina Panthers), Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted a pass from Jake Delhomme in the red zone during the second quarter.

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, however didn't participate due to an injury sustained in the divisional round playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Philadelphia Eagles (2011-2012)

On July 28, 2011, Rodgers-Cromartie was traded, along with a second round pick, to the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Kevin Kolb. 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.^[7]

Denver Broncos (2013-present)

On March 13, 2013, Rodgers-Cromartie signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Denver Broncos.^[8]

In his second game as a Bronco, 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. Both interceptions were against NFC East teams.

Personal

He is the cousin of New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie.^[9]

References

External links

• Denver Broncos bio
• Philadelphia Eagles bio
• Tennessee State Tigers bio