Antonio Cromartie

Infobox NFLactive

---

|currentteam=San Diego Chargers
currentnumber=31
currentposition=Cornerback
birthdate=birth date and age|1984|4|15
birthplace=Tallahassee, Florida
heightft=6
heightin=2
weight=203
debutyear=2006
debutteam=San Diego Chargers
college=Florida State
highlights=
* Longest play in NFL history (109-yard field goal touchdown return - Nov. 4, 2007)
* All-Pro selection (2007)
* Pro Bowl selection (2007)
draftyear=2006
draftround=1
draftpick=19
pastteams=
* San Diego Chargers (2006-present)
status=Active
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=68
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=0.0
statlabel3=INTs
statvalue3=10
nfl=CRO161100

Antonio Cromartie (born April 15, 1984 in Tallahassee, Florida) is an American football cornerback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Chargers 19th overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.

Cromartie is credited with the longest play in NFL history, as he returned a missed Minnesota Vikings field goal 109 yards for a touchdown on November 4, 2007. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recap;_ylt=An5QEyVcyhFNqC1rouxnDCVDubYF?gid=20071104016&prov=ap "Minnesota 35, San Diego 17"] , "Yahoo!Sports", 2007-11-04. Accessed 2007-11-04. ]

Early years

Cromartie was a versatile player at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Florida, where he transferred after playing his early high school years at North Florida Christian School, also in Tallahassee. Throughout his senior season, Cromartie recorded 12 tackles and 2 interceptions, returned 3 punts and 2 kicks for TDs, had 450 yards and 1 touchdowns on 30 catches and ran the ball 13 times for 242 yards and 3 touchdowns. This was enough to earn Cromartie 2002 "USA Today" defensive player of the year. Cromartie was also a standout in track and placed 3rd in the 110m hurdles and as a member of the 4x100 m relay team at the Class 4A County track meet.cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/02allusa.htm|title=All-USA 2002 high school football team|date=2005-05-20|publisher=USATODAY.com|accessdate=2008-05-06]

College career

Cromartie decided to stay close to home and committed to playing college football at Florida State. After flashing playmaking potential as a nickel back and kick returner his first two years, Cromartie tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee July, 2005 during voluntary workouts before his junior year and was forced to miss the entire season. He was potentially going to play some wide receiver during his junior year but didn't because of the season ending injury. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2106962 ESPN - Cromartie to miss 2005 season. - College Football ] ]

Professional career

2006 NFL Draft

Despite being removed from competitive football for an entire year, Cromartie was still selected as the 19th overall pick of the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Chargers based on his great potential. After not being able to show much at the NFL Combine, on March, 16, 2006, just 8 months after surgery to repair his torn ACL, Cromartie performed at his pro day in 2006 for scouts. [ [http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/profile.php?pyid=8269 *Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida State - 2006 NFL Draft Scout Profile, Powered by The SportsXchange ] ]

("* represents NFL Combine")

an Diego Chargers

On July 25, 2006, Cromartie signed a 5-year, $12.5 million contract with $7.35 million guaranteed with the Chargers. In his first season with the Chargers, Cromartie saw action at cornerback and on special teams. He showed flashes of his athletic ability on defense, while at times also showing that he was an inexperienced rookie. Toward the end of the season, Cromartie handled some punt and kickoff return duties. In a game against the Oakland Raiders, Cromartie returned a kickoff 91 yards, the longest return for the team since 2001.

2007 Season

Cromartie wore jersey #25 his rookie season but has since switched to #31 as a Charger for his sophomore year, the reverse of #13, the jersey he wore at Florida State University. In a video interview during the 2007 offseason, Cromartie claimed he was the fastest player on the Chargers. In his opinion Cletis Gordon was the 2nd fastest player. [ [http://www.chargers.com/news/advanced-media-player.php?reference=5-Sw_mfr_t-SAWuqjGU6Adr4I-J66SMJaSyCAB21bHU Chargers.com » Media Player ] ]

On October 28th, 2007, Cromartie had two interceptions, returning one 70 yards for a touchdown, 91 total interception return yards, and a fumble recovery for another touchdown while playing against the Houston Texans. Cromartie led the Chargers to a 35-10 victory over the Texans. He was subsequently nominated for the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award.

The following week, Cromartie made NFL history. Minnesota Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell came onto the field to attempt a 58-yard field goal to end the first half. The Chargers put Cromartie in the endzone to return the field goal in case of a missed kick. The field goal attempt missed the goalposts and fell toward the back of the endzone. Cromartie caught the football, came down with both feet in bounds, two inches from the back of the end zone, and began the return against mostly linemen. Cromartie returned the missed field goal 109 yards for a touchdown at The Metrodome, setting a record for the longest play in NFL history.

The next week Cromartie made his first NFL start in place of the injured Quentin Jammer and continued his outstanding play by intercepting three passes thrown by Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts; the last of which was a leaping one-handed interception in front of Colts WR Reggie Wayne. [ [http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/sullivan/20071112-9999-1s12sullivan.html SignOnSanDiego.com > Sports - Give Cromartie a party, more starts ] ] Cromartie called the one-handed interception the best play of his short career. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=3106487 ESPN - Cromartie's first start at corner a smash hit - NFL ] ] He is the first player to intercept Peyton Manning three times in one game during the regular season, and earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in the game. [ [http://www.chargers.com/news/headlines/sproles-cromartie-earn.htm Chargers.com - News » Headlines » Sproles, Cromartie earn League honors ] ]

On November 24, 2007, Cromartie became a starting cornerback, replacing Drayton Florence (who became a free agent at the end of the season).

In the AFC Divisional game against the Indianpolis Colts, Cromartie recorded another interception against Peyton Manning, and his defensive efforts during the game (including a forced fumble against Marvin Harrison) helped the Chargers knock off the defending-champion Colts.

In the AFC Championship game, Cromartie recorded an interception against the Patriots' quarterback and 2007 NFL MVP Tom Brady. In this game, the Patriots' main big-play receiving threat and unanimous AP All Pro, Randy Moss, was held to one catch for 18 yards and no touchdowns. However, despite the exceptional performance from the Chargers' secondary, the Patriots ended the Chargers' playoff run for the second consecutive season.

On December 16, 2007, Cromartie set a franchise record by recording his 10th interception of the season, breaking the previous record of 9 interceptions set by Charlie McNeil in 1961. His 10 interceptions led the NFL for number of interceptions in 2007. In addition, Cromartie had 2 post season interceptions.

Cromartie was one of three cornerbacks selected to the 2007 AFC Pro Bowl team, his first selection. At the Pro Bowl, Cromartie intercepted two passes.

Personal life

He is engaged to Rhonda Patterson. Their wedding is scheduled for June 2009.cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/chargers/2008-03-23-sw-antonio-cromartie_N.htm|title=How high can Cro go?|last=Corbett|first=Jim|accessdate=2008-05-06]

He has five children from three different mothers.cite web|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=408337|title=The amazing story behind Antonio Cromartie|last=Crossman|first=Matt|accessdate=2008-05-25]

His cousin, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, was an All-American cornerback at Tennessee State University, and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the 16th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

References