Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie life and biography

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is an American football cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cardinals 16th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee State.

Pro Career:
Originally drafted by the Cardinals in the first round (16th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft, has appeared in all 32 regular season games (27 starts) and started all six postseason contests during his first two NFL seasons.

2009: Started a career-high 16 regular season games as well as both postseason contests … led team with career-highs in INTs (6), passes defensed (33), and forced fumbles (3) … recorded first career forced fumble as well as one INT @ Jax (9/20) … despite a broken finger on his right hand that was protected by a cast, intercepted Matt Schaub in the fourth quarter, returning it 49 yards for the game winning TD vs. Hou (10/11); the TD put AZ up 28-21 with 2:20 to play; named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career; marked second career INT returned for a TD … led team and tied career-high with four passes defensed @ Sea (10/18); part of defense that held QB Matt Hasselbeck to the second lowest passer rating (32.5) and completion rate (34.5%) of any start in his career … registered one INT and left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury @ NYG (10/25) … blocked second career FG and tied career-high with four passes defensed @ Chi (11/8); blocked FG was a 48-yard attempt with :40 left in the second quarter and the deflection was caught by Antrel Rolle in the end zone and returned 59 yards to the Chicago 49-yard-line, setting up a FG that resulted in a 31-7 halftime lead … returned to his college home field and led team for the fifth consecutive game with three passes defensed while also recording second career forced fumble @ Ten (11/29) … tied career-high with two INTs and registered four tackles @ Det (12/20); marked second two-INT game of his career, with the other coming @ Sea on 11/16/08 … registered two passes defensed and an INT in the fourth quarter vs. StL (12/27); marked third INT in two games … started but then left the game with a knee contusion on the first drive of the regular season finale vs. GB (1/3/10) … collected three tackles and one INT on the Packers first offensive play of the game vs. GB (1/10/10); marked third INT in fifth career postseason game; tied franchise record for the most INTs during the postseason (Aeneas Williams,1998) … recorded two tackles before a left knee injury forced him to leave the Divisional game @ NO (1/16/10) in the first quarter.

2008: Had a standout rookie year, starting 11 of 16 games played during the regular season and all four postseason contests; registered two INTs at Seattle in week 11 to become the first Cardinals rookie since CB Aeneas Williams in 1991 (12/15 @ Den) to have two INTs in a game ... made his NFL debut and had two passes defensed along with a special teams tackle @ SF (9/7); also had one play on offense as a receiver ... registered first two tackles of career and played one play on offense vs. Mia (9/14); stepped in for CB Rod Hood (neck) and CB Eric Green (calf), both of whom returned to the game ... started first career game with Arizona opening with six DBs and recovered a Neil Rackers onside kick that led to a Cardinals TD @ NYJ (9/28) ... recorded first two career INTs as well as four tackles @ Sea (11/16); second INT off QB Matt Hasselbeck came in final two minutes and sealed the victory ... tied SS Adrian Wilson (10/1/06 @ Atl) for the longest INT return in franchise history, going 99 yards for a TD while also registering one tackle for a loss vs. StL (12/7); tied Johnnie Johnson of the L.A. Rams (9/2/80) for the longest INT return for a TD by a rookie since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger ... registered first career blocked FG vs. Min (12/14); marked Cardinals first blocked FG since 9/17/06 at Sea ... made first career playoff start and led team with career-high 12 tackles and one INT vs. Atl (1/3/09); saw action on two plays on offense but did not record any statistics ... recorded team-high three passes defensed as well as one INT @ Car (1/10/09); dating back to the regular season it marked his sixth INT in the last nine games; registered an INT in each of the last three games; held Pro Bowl WR Steve Smith to 43 yards on two receptions and one TD which came in the final minute of the game, marked Smith’s second-lowest yardage total this season; also tipped a pass intended for Smith in the third quarter that was intercepted by Antrel Rolle ... led team with two passes defensed vs. Pit (2/1/09) in Super Bowl XLIII.

College:
A two-time All-American and three-time All-Ohio Valley first-team selection at Tennessee State, appeared in 44 games with 39 starts after earning the starting job midway through his freshman season … of his 11 career INTs, returned four for TDs and averaged 28.5 yards per INT return … also returned a fumble and a kickoff for TDs and blocked eight kicks in his career … on special teams, returned 36 kickoffs for 859 yards and six punts for 44 yards and on the offensive side of the ball, also caught two passes for 46 yards and rushed twice for 16 yards … also a track star, qualifying for the NCAA Mid-East Regionals after capturing the Ohio Valley Conference long jump title with a jump of 25’ 0.75” … at the 2007 OVC Indoor Track Championship, he won the Top Male Athlete award after winning the 60-meter dash (6.89), long jump (25’ 0.75”) and high jump (6’ 9.5”) and finished second in the triple jump (48’ 8”) … recorded 37 tackles, 11 passes defensed, two INTs (both of which he returned for TDs) and recovered two fumbles … established a school season-record by blocking four kicks and gained 806 yards and a TD on 33 kickoff returns.

Personal:
Full name Dominique Reshard Rodgers-Cromartie … attended Lakewood Ranch (FL) High School where he was an all-area, All-Class 5A and All-District 11 defensive back and wide receiver … Lakewood Ranch became the fourth high school he attended and first where he received playing time … also competed as a jumper and sprinter on the school’s track team … born with a non-functioning kidney that was removed when he was eight years old … Psychology major at Tennessee State.

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