Age: 23
2nd
season in pro football & with Chargers
College: Florida
State
Height: 6’2” Weight: 203
Prelude:
Cromartie
intercepted five passes in college and returned 43 kickoffs for a 23.3-yard
average, but in 2005, his last year, he missed the
season due to a knee injury suffered during a summer workout. A raw talent with
great potential, Cromartie was chosen by the Chargers in the first round of the
2006 NFL draft and split time with CB Drayton Florence as a rookie. He emerged
in ’07, showing off outstanding ball-hawking ability in addition to fine speed
for coverage.
2007 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 10 [1]
Most
interceptions, game – 3 vs. Indianapolis 11/11
Int. return
yards – 144 [6]
Most int.
return yards, game – 91 (on 2 int.) vs. Houston 10/28
Int. TDs – 1 [7,
tied with many others]
Sacks – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 2
Forced
fumbles – 0
Tackles – 39
Assists – 5
Kickoff
Returns
Returns – 3
Yards – 67
Average per
return – 22.3
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 26 yards
Scoring
TDs – 3
Points – 18
One TD scored
on the 109-yard return of a missed field goal vs. Minnesota, a NFL record.
Postseason: 3 G
Interceptions
– 2
Int. return
yards – 37
TDs – 0
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP
Pro Bowl
Chargers went
11-5 to finish first in the AFC West while leading the NFL in interceptions
(30). Won AFC Wild Card playoff over Tennessee Titans (17-6) & AFC
Divisional playoff over Indianapolis Colts (28-24). Lost AFC Championship to
New England Patriots (21-12).
Aftermath:
Cromartie had
a lesser year in 2008, playing with a hip injury, and intercepted just two
passes. There were off-field issues in ’09 and he was traded to the New York
Jets in 2010. Cromartie had problems with consistency in his first two years
with the Jets but stepped up when top CB Darrelle Revis was injured and
garnered Pro Bowl recognition in 2012. Following another Pro Bowl year in 2013,
Cromartie moved on to the Arizona Cardinals, again achieved Pro Bowl honors,
and returned to the Jets as a free agent in 2015. He had a disappointing year,
seeming to have lost speed and failing to intercept a pass for the first time
since his rookie year, and was released in the offseason. Overall through 2015,
Cromartie has intercepted 31 passes, three of which he returned for touchdowns,
with 15 pickoffs and two TDs coming with the Chargers. He also has returned two
of his five fumble recoveries for touchdowns and ran back 60 kickoffs for a
23.9-yard average. Cromartie received first-team All-NFL honors once and was named
to four Pro Bowls.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were first-team
All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following
statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
