Tag: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Ex-Giant to be inducted into Black College Football Hall of Fame

Former New York Giants DB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will be inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Former New York Giants defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is headed to the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

On Wednesday, the BCFHOF announced the class of 2025, including DRC and four other NFL alumni from prominent HBCU schools.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Tennessee State, 2004-2007) The Florida native was a 2007 FCS All-America defensive back who started 39 games as a collegian…Drafted on the first round off the 2008 Draft by the Cardinals and spent three seasons in Arizona. He later played nine years with five other teams (Eagles, Broncos, Giants, Raiders, Redskins; 2011-2019).

The other upcoming inductees include Rashean Mathis, Henry Dyer, Jay “Sky” Walker, Jacquay Nunnally, and Fred “Pop” Long.

“What we have with the Class of 2025 is an incredible showcase of the talent that has come from Historically Black Colleges and Universities over the years,” said BCFHOF co-founder Doug Williams. “When Shack Harris and I established the Black College Football Hall of Fame, its purpose was to do just this by elevating and recognizing the past, present, and future of Black College Football.”

Rodgers-Cromartie was a first-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in the 2008 NFL draft. In addition to the Giants and Cardinals, he also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, and Washington Commanders.

The Giants signed DRC as a free agent in 2014 and he went on to spend four seasons in East Rutherford. During his career, he earned two Pro Bowl nods (2009, 2015) and was named a Second-Tram All-Pro in 2016 as a member of Big Blue.

In 61 games (44 starts) for the Giants, Rodgers-Cromartie recorded 193 tackles (160 solo, nine for a loss), three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, three QB hits, 1.5 sacks, 47 passes defensed, 11 interceptions, and one defensive touchdown.

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Former Giants star joins coaching staff at Bayshore High School in Florida

A former New York Giants All-Pro cornerback has joined the coaching staff at Bayshore High School in Bradenton, Florida.

Former New York Giants Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is reportedly entering the coaching ranks.

DRC, as he was known during his 12-year NFL career, is joining the staff at Bayshore High School in Bradenton, Florida.

Rodgers-Cromartie, 38, is a native of Bradenton and played his high school ball at competing Lakewood Ranch. He went on to star in college at Tennessee State and was a first-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals (16th overall) in 2008.

Rodgers-Cromartie joined the Giants in 2014 as a big-ticket free agent, signing a five-year, $35 million deal with Big Blue.

In addition to playing three seasons in Arizona and four with the Giants, DRC spent two seasons with Philadelphia and one each in Denver, Oakland, and Washington.

Rodgers-Cromartie was named a Second-Team All-Pro as a member of the Giants in 2016.

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Wright compares Emmanuel Forbes to former NFL Pro Bowl cornerback

DRC spent 12 seasons in the NFL.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was a first-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals back in 2008. The No. 16 overall pick from Tennessee State spent his first three seasons with the Cardinals before he would go on to play 12 NFL seasons for six teams, including finishing his career in Washington in 2019.

Rodgers-Cromartie had an excellent career, earning one second-team All-Pro and two trips to the Pro Bowl. He’d finish his NFL career with 30 interceptions and seven touchdowns.

During Rodgers-Cromartie’s time in Arizona, he was teammates with Washington Commanders team president Jason Wright. Wright’s final two NFL seasons came with the Cardinals from 2009-10 before he retired. In 2020, the Commanders hired Wright as team president.

In a recent appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show,” Wright discussed Washington’s first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes.

In fact, Wright said Forbes reminded him of Rodgers-Cromartie.

“I played with a guy, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie when I was with the Cardinals,” Wright said. “DRC is it. He was incredibly explosive; he could go up and get the ball, he had a natural knack for tracking the ball, he was slight in the frame, but he would stick his head in there when he needed to, and I would argue Emmanuel is more willing to do that much more than DRC was. And so we feel really good about the pick.”

Forbes, like Rodgers-Cromartie, was also selected No. 16 overall.

 

7 of the top 50 draft prospects draw comparisons to current and former Giants

Doug Farrar gives 7 of the top 50 prospects in the 2023 NFL draft a pro comparison to current or former members of the New York Giants.

One of the more entertaining parts of the pre-draft process is learning which pro comparisons are given to top prospects. It’s a measure that helps casual fans recognize potential and understand what sort of style certain players will bring to the NFL.

Pro comparisons also help break up the relentless monotony of mock drafts.

Late last week, Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar offered up his comparisons for the top 50 prospects in the 2023 NFL draft class. Seven of them were compared to players who, at one point or another, suited up for the New York Giants.

Here’s a look at all seven prospects who were compared to current or former members of Big Blue.

Ex-Giant Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie believes he could have played WR in the NFL

Former New York Giants CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who plays WR in the AFFL, believes he could have played the position in the NFL, too.

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During his time in the NFL, former New York Giants defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was one of the fastest players in the entire league. Now, Rodgers-Cromartie is thriving in the American Flag Football League.

Not only that, DRC is playing on both sides of the ball. He lines up at wide receiver for the Kings of Florida in the AFFL — something he says he could have done during his NFL career.

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Rodgers-Cromartie’s speed alone makes you wonder what he could have accomplished as a pass catcher in the NFL. He’s excelled at the position in the AFFL, but did take a few snaps at the position during his time with the Arizona Cardinals.

“My first year with the Cardinals, [there were] a few times I was at wide receiver,” Rodgers-Cromartie told Giants Wire. “You know, I always tell every team I go to, I always go to the offensive coordinator and say, ‘hey, if you need a decoy, just send me deep. If you happen to throw it, you throw it. But if you need a decoy, just send me deep. I’ll take the top off somebody.’

“In my mind, I’ve always been a receiver. That’s why I always tell corners, you’ve gotta learn to turn that head and find that ball. You’ve gotta become the receiver. That’s what I was good at, just finding the ball in the air.”

It’s not an uncommon thought for many of the league’s top defensive backs.

“Every defensive back thinks he could be a wide receiver and every wide receiver thinks they could play defensive back.” AFFL CEO Jeff Lewis added.

Certainly, there is some crossover between the skills at the two positions. However, it isn’t as easy as the flip of the switch, either — which is why it is rare to see a player who is playing both defensive back and wide receiver.

As DRC continues his career in the AFFL, it will be interesting to see what other former NFL defensive backs he tries to recruit to play wide receiver in the AFFL.

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Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: Young players won’t understand Tom Coughlin

Ex-New York Giants CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie praised his former coach, Tom Coughlin, but admits younger guys won’t understand him.

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Most players who played under former New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin have nothing but good things to say.

Coughlin, of course, earned a lot of respect from his players and fans during his time with the Giants due to his victories over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI.

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Although Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie did not win a Super Bowl with Coughlin, the time he spent with the coach still appears to be something the former NFL cornerback values.

“I think when you’re young, you’re not going to understand Tom Coughlin. You know, because when I got there everything [was] structured and it makes sense,” DRC told Giants Wire last week. “Tom Coughlin is a coach that not only prepares you for on the field, but off the field for life as well with all his rules as far as coming in early. You know he set all the clocks in the locker room five, 10 minutes earlier and the way you had to dress in and out of the hotel.

“Younger guys aren’t going to understand that but the older you get, you’re going to understand that it’s more than just football with him. He’s really preparing you for life after football. I think I got that after he left.”

It didn’t feel that way for Rodgers-Cromartie initially. It was a bit of a shock but it didn’t take him long to figure things out with the help of safety Antrel Rolle.

“At first I came in like, ‘all these rules, man.’ Coming from teams where it wasn’t that structured, it was kind of hard but I got it — once Antrel Rolle sat me down and was like ‘this is how he is, he’s not budging for nobody. I don’t care how good you are, how many plays you’ve played, it’s his way’ — and you have to understand that and buy in,” he said.

Coughlin was always a tough coach with the Giants, but he was also always fair and most of his former players can attest to that.

Rodgers-Cromartie likely got to appreciate Coughlin after their time together was over. When Coughlin departed, things changed rather drastically under Ben McAdoo.

The structure that Coughlin brought to the table likely led to the Giants two Super Bowl victories. It also set his players up to be better men away from the field, which is something most value more than the rings.

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Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: Antrel Rolle led me to sign with Giants in 2014

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie says Antrel Rolle was the “determining factor” in his decision to sign with the New York Giants back in 2014.

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It’s no secret that NFL players talk to each other and that there’s a certain level of recruitment going on when former teammates are available via free agency.

Back in 2014, when the New York Giants signed Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, it was pretty clear that safety Antrel Rolle played a role in bringing in his former teammate from their days in Arizona.

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What wasn’t clear was just how much of a role Rolle played in DRC coming to the Giants.

Rodgers-Cromartie, who currently plays in the AFFL, recently spoke with Giants Wire about signing with New York in 2014 and made it clear that Rolle was the determining factor in the move. He even called Rolle his mentor.

“I played with Antrel Rolle in Arizona,” DRC said. “You know he was my mentor out there. So he gave me a call and said, ‘look, I really want you to come over here and play with me’ and you know, that was the deciding factor. That was it and then he leaves the next year but he definitely got me to come over there.”

Rolle, of course, was a part of the Super Bowl XLVI roster and was a captain for the Giants during his time with Big Blue. He left via free agency in 2015 and while many believed he was past his prime at that point in his career, it was still hard for Giants fans to see him move onto another team.

Still, the recruitment of DRC is one that the Giants needed at the time and Rolle deserves credit for going above and beyond in his role as the captain.

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Ex-Giant Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: Eli Manning is a Hall of Famer

Former New York Giants DB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie believes Eli Manning is a Hall of Famer.

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Not many players were lucky enough to play with both Eli Manning and Peyton Manning during their NFL career.

Former New York Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie falls into that category and thinks highly of both Mannings.

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With Peyton being inducted into the Hall of Fame this past weekend in Canton, Ohio and as the time goes along, the debate continues over whether or not two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning should also get the Hall of Fame nod.

Rodgers-Cromartie, who played alongside Eli from 2014-2017, certainly thinks so.

“Yeah, I do. I do,” Rodgers-Cromartie, who now plays in the AFFL, told Giants Wire.

Rodgers-Cromartie also detailed the difference between Peyton and Eli, noting that Eli was far more charismatic and engaging than people realized.

“[Peyton] is a little more serious than [Eli] but you know, they are both great quarterbacks,” DRC said. “Peyton’s very structured. I remember one time a receiver dropped the pass and he started the whole period over. So I used to say in practice, ‘please don’t drop, please don’t drop.’

“Eli [was] the same way in general but he’s more lackadaisical. He’s way more goofier than what people think he is. When I think of quarterbacks, I think of serious, not really jokesters. You can’t really play with them but Eli, man… You come to the locker room, I see him with practice squad players. [Everyone] jokes with him. He takes the time to have conversations with the smaller guys on the team and that really stuck with me.”

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about the goofy side of the former Giants’ quarterback.

Most of Eli’s former teammates believe that the two-time Super Bowl MVP is a Hall of Famer. Recently, Steve Weatherford raved about Eli and didn’t shy away from calling him a Hall of Famer.

Ultimately, it will come down to the votes when Eli is eligible.

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Ex-Giant Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie thriving in American Flag Football League

Former New York Giants CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is thriving in the AFFL and Giants Wire has the video to prove it.

Former New York Giants defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was one of the better cornerbacks in the league during his time in the NFL. Now, with his NFL career in the rearview mirror, DRC has kept his competitive juices flowing by playing in the American Flag Football League.

Rodgers-Cromartie sat down with Giants Wire this week to talk about his time in the AFFL. DRC plays for the Kings of Florida and used to play flag football during his NFL offseasons.

This is DRC’s first year in the league but if his excitement is any indication of his plans, don’t expect him to be one-and-done in the AFFL.

Rodgers-Cromartie is one of a handful of former NFL players in the AFFL, including Michael Vick, Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens, Vince Young and Danny Wuerffel, among others.

AFFL CEO Jeff Lewis sees the trend of former NFL players moving on the flag football continuing in the future.

“It’s very common to find that NFL guys are playing flag,” Lewis said. “Just to compete and just to get a rise and it’s happening all over. You’d be surprised like I remember I went to a tournament and there was a little 4-on-4 game going on and there’s a guy in his defensive crouch and I’m like ‘that guy looks a lot like Devin Hester’ and they were like ‘that’s because it is.'”

DRC did admit he does actively try to recruit former teammates of his from his time in the NFL.

“I definitely recruit guys because the more I’ve been getting into this game,” Rodgers-Cromartie told Giants Wire. “The more I learn about the strategy and how it works. So my main thing is I’m a defender and you’ve always gotta have speed. So I’m always recruiting DBs (defensive backs).”

Rodgers-Cromartie specifically mentioned Charles James, who was a teammate of DRC’s during his time with Big Blue

“I try to recruit all the speed guys that can cover. In this league, you need guys that can cover but if you can’t pull the flag, it don’t even matter,” he said.

Recently, Rodgers-Cromartie made a pretty sick catch you can see here:

The AFFL is growing every year and are currently entering their fourth year of operations and the first season of the women’s division. Both the men’s and women’s divisions have $200,000 prizes for the championship-winning team.

DRC and his teammates on the Kings of Florida will be in action this weekend, Saturday, August 14, against Your Tax Gurus at 9:00 a.m. EDT in the quarterfinals. The game can be viewed on Facebook along with the rest of the AFFL’s quarterfinal action.

CBS Sports Network will be broadcasting the semifinals on Sunday and if DRC’s squad moves on from the quarterfinals, they will play in the Semis at 6:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday, August 15.

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Ex-Giant Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie says he’s not done playing just yet

Former New York Giants CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is looking to make an NFL comeback and has some workouts scheduled post-draft.

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For those of you who thought you saw the last of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, think again. The 35-year-old former Pro Bowl cornerback is back seeking employment in the NFL.

Rodgers-Cromarite last played in 2019 for Washington, a gig that ended after two weeks as DRC landed on season-ending injured reserve with torn ligaments in his ankle. He did not play in 2020.

DRC began his career with the Arizona Cardinals, who selected him with the 16th overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft out of Tennessee State. He went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos before inking a five-year, $35 million deal with the New York Giants in 2014.

DRC was named to his second Pro Bowl in 2015 and was released by the Giants in a cost-cutting move after the 2017 season. He signed with the Oakland Raiders in 2018 but retired after seven games. He came out of retirement to play for Washington the next year.

In January, DRC signed on to be a voluntary coach at his alma mater where former NFL star running back Eddie George was recently named head coach and Hue Jackson the offensive coordinator.

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