Dominique Rodgers-cromartie

At 38 years old, Dominique Rodgers-cromartie has this physical status:

Dominique Reshard Rodgers-Cromartie (born April 7, 1986), dubbed "DRC," is the National Football League's (NFL)'s first American football cornerback.

In the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, he played college football for Tennessee State University and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals.

Rodgers-Cromartie has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, New York Giants, and Oakland Raiders.

He was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2009 and 2015.

Early years

Rodgers-Cromartie was born with a non-functioning kidney that was removed when he was eight years old. He attended three high schools, including spending his sophomore year at Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando, Florida, where he first played time and became a All-Area, All-District 11 defensive back and wide receiver. He also competed as a jumper and sprinter on the school's track team. According to the High School Recruiting Report, he was named Florida's Most Underrated Prospect.

Personal life

He is the cousin of cornerback Antonio Cromartie, Marcus Cromartie, and Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers. Stanley, his father, was also a former assistant coach for the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats men's basketball team.

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College career

He played for the Tennessee State Tigers football team from 2004 to 2007. He was good at protecting receivers and catching interceptions. During his senior year, he excelled as a kickoff returner and played as a wide receiver.

Opposing quarterbacks made just 56% of 161 passes (34.1 percent) thrown near Rodgers-Cromartie in 39 starts for the Tigers, with opposing quarterbacks taking only 55 percent (34.1 percent) on the field. He intercepted 11 of those throws, deflected 25, and held the opposition to a minuscule 3.54 yards per pass attempt, the highest level of any collegiate defensive back in over his three seasons.

He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

Rodgers-Cromartie was also a top-notch performer for the track team. In 2007, Juggling football spring drills qualified for the NCAA Mid-East Regionals after winning the Ohio Valley Conference long jump title by a distance of 7.71 meters. Since finishing third at the Penn Relays in his second outdoor event, he was named OVC Male Athlete of the Week, with a conference-best long jump of 7.56 meters.

Rodgers-Cromartie was voted the top male athlete at the OVC Indoor Track Championships after a spectacular showing. He won the 60-meter dash in a time of 6.89 seconds, long jump with a height of 2.07 meters, and finished second in the triple jump with a record of 14.83 meters. When he was nursing an ankle sprain, he did the bulk of the indoor season. While at Lakewood Ranch High School, he also competed in the 100 meters, completing a career-best time of 10.75 seconds.

Professional career

Rodgers-Cromartie drew little draft interest because his squad, in general, was lackingluster players, as well as poor execution. During Senior Bowl week, he impressed scouts, was very active during the planned practices, and was named defensive MVP for the game. At the NFL combine, a 4.29 40-yard dash brought comparisons to Fabian Washington.

In the first round (16th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft, Rodgers-Cromartie was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals. On July 25, 2008, he agreed to a five-year, $15.1 million deal with the team, which included a promise of $9 million. He wore number 29. Rodgers-Cromartie was named the starting nickelback for the 2008 season, behind starters Roderick Hood and Eric Green. Matt Hasselbeck intercepted him off 2 interceptions against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 11, his second interception game, leading to the Cardinals' 26-20 victory. Rodgers-Cromartie returned for a touchdown in Week 14 against the St. Louis Rams, guaranteeing a Cardinal victory and subsequent Division Championship title. Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted a pass from Matt Ryan during the 2008 Wild Card Playoff Game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Atlanta Falcons. During the second quarter, he intercepted a pass from Jake Delhomme in the red zone in the Divisional Round versus the Carolina Panthers. Rodgers-Cromartie led the Cardinals to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history after beating the Philadelphia Eagles 32-25 in the NFC Championship game. Rodgers-Cromartie had 5 tackles and 2 passes protected in Super Bowl XLIII, as the Cardinals lost 27-23 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In the 2009 NFL regular season, Rodgers-Cromartie had 50 tackles and six interceptions. He intercepted Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay on the first play of the game to set up a Cardinals touchdown. He was chosen 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.

He had 44 total tackles and three interceptions in the 2010 season, two of whom were pick-sixes. His three postseason interceptions were the same as Aeneas Williams' with his Cardinals franchise record.

Rodgers-Cromartie was traded by the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Kevin Kolb on July 28, 2011, as well as a second-round pick. He was ranked #33 on the charts. In his first season with the Eagles, he had zero interceptions, mainly in the nickel position, in a position where he hasn't been used to playing early in his career. In the last four games of the year, his play stepped up a lot.

Rodgers-Cromartie was fined $21,000 on August 17, 2012, for striking Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich in the head and neck during the preseason.

He had 51 total tackles and three interceptions in the 2012 season.

Rodgers-Cromartie signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Denver Broncos on March 13, 2013. He was given number 45, which he wore at Tennessee State.

Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted Eli Manning in the closing seconds of the first half of the Broncos' second game as a member of the New York Giants. In a 45-21 victory over the Washington Redskins, Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted Kirk Cousins and brought it back 75 yards for a touchdown. His first two interceptions were against NFC East teams. In a 37-13 victory over Matt Schaub and the Houston Texans, his third interception came against him.

The Broncos defeated the New England Patriots 26-16 in the AFC Championship game, advancing to Super Bowl XLVIII. Rodgers-Cromartie had one tackle while the Broncos lost 43-8 to the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl.

Rodgers-Cromartie played for 31 tackles and three interceptions in his first season with the Broncos.

Rodgers-Cromartie agreed to a five-year deal with the New York Giants on March 17, 2014, with $11.98 million guaranteed.

Rodgers-Cromartie had three tackles and an interception against the Houston Texans on September 21, 2014. He made his first intercept of the season (20th year) by picking off Ryan Fitzpatrick and returning it for ten yards. Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted the Tennessee Titans on December 7, 2014, a rookie interception. Zach Mettenberger was picked off by Zach Mettenberger and returning it 36 yards for a touchdown in his second interception of the season (21st career). A necessary roughness foulment penalty was thrown at the play, nullifying the touchdown. Rodgers-Cromartie had 38 tackles and two interceptions, as well as having 12 pass deflections.

Rodgers-Cromartie's jersey number 41 was changed to jersey number 41 on June 9, 2015, giving Landon Collins the #21. This was his fifth time changing his number in his career.

Rodgers-Cromartie had two tackles, two interceptions, and a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys on October 25, 2015. Matt Cassel was thrown twice, one 58 yards for a touchdown and the other for 12 yards. He intercepted his 22nd and 23rd interceptions, the first time he had intercepted two interceptions in a single game was against Brandon Weeden and the Cleveland Browns in 2012. He scored his sixth touchdown in his career against Kirk Cousins and the Washington Redskins in 2013. Rodgers-Cromartie recorded six tackles and an interception against the New Orleans Saints on November 1, 2015. Drew Brees was intercepted and returned the ball two yards for his 24th interception. He had a career-high 58 tackles in Rodgers-Cromartie's second season with the Giants. Rodgers-Cromartie was also responsible for two forced fumbles, three interceptions, and 13 pass deflections. He was named to his second Pro Bowl on January 26, 2016, over Boston' Malcolm Butler.

Rodgers-Cromartie had four tackles and two interceptions against the Los Angeles Rams on October 23, 2016. Case Keenum twice was intercepted twice by his 25th and 26th interceptions, with both teams catching both in the endzone for touchbacks. He played his fifth multi-interception game of his career. Rodgers-Cromartie had seven tackles and an intercept against the Detroit Lions on December 18, 2016. Matthew Stafford was dragged into the endzone for a touchback in his third interception of the season (27th in his career). Rodgers-Cromartie had two tackles and an interception against the Philadelphia Eagles on December 22, 2016. Carson Wentz was disqualified for no gain on his fourth interception of the season (28th in his career). Kirk Cousins and the Washington Redskins were able to win the game twice on his last interceptions of the season. He played his 30th birthday and the sixth of the season.

Rodgers-Cromartie was temporarily suspended by the Giants on October 11, 2017, after he had an unexcused departure from the team's campus. Rodgers-Cromartie argued with head coach Ben McAdoo about being suspended from the previous game in Week 5. After McAdoo told him that he was suspended, Cromartie only left the hospital. Rodgers-Cromartie will be suspended indefinitely after the Giants announced on October 12 that the previous day, on October 12. On October 17, he was reinstated from his suspension.

Rodgers-Cromartie will be relocated to safety in the 2018 offseason, following a disappointing season for the secondary. He was released by the Giants on March 11, 2018, saving them $6.5 million in cap space.

Rodgers-Cromartie signed with the Oakland Raiders on August 23, 2018. Rodgers-Cromartie announced his resignation on October 30, 2018.

Rodgers-Cromartie came out of retirement to sign with the Washington Redskins on March 15, 2019. He was put on injured reserve on September 18, 2019 after suffering a torn ligament injury in his ankle.

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