Countdown to Kickoff: New York Giants No. 41 Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
The Countdown to Kickoff series continues on with a profile on New York Giants veteran cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
There are exactly 41 days until the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers open up the 2016 NFL regular season with a Super Bowl rematch. In the meantime, we at NFL Spin Zone are going to profile a player each day as we countdown the days to kickoff.
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A few months ago, we began by previewing the rookie defensive end of the San Diego Chargers in Joey Bosa (No. 99). On Thursday, it was Oakland Raiders first-round pick and rookie strong safety Karl Joseph, part of a revamped secondary for the Silver and Black.
The list of No. 41s these days include a pair of notable defensive backs in cornerback Byron Maxwell, a one-time Seattle Seahawks standout and a member of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015. He was dealt to the Miami Dolphins this offseason.
There’s also veteran safety Roman Harper, a member of the NFC champion Panthers this past season but a player who won a Super Bowl ring with the New Orleans Saints back in 2009.
Other notable performers donning this number includes current San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea and New York Jets cornerback Buster Skrine.
But here the focus is on one of the more well-traveled players around the league. Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has been a valuable addition to every club he’s suited up for and it’s safe to say that he has made a positive impression during his eight seasons in the league.
The 2008 first-round draft choice by the Cardinals was a member of Arizona’s Super Bowl squad that year. But after three seasons and 13 interceptions (4 returned for touchdowns), he was part of a trade that sent him to the Philadelphia Eagles. After two seasons with these Birds, he was a member of the 2013 Denver Broncos club that reached Super Bowl XLVIII. One year later, he began his current stint with the New York Giants.
His career resume includes 24 interceptions, six of those returned for scores. The two-time Pro Bowler has also totaled his share of passes defensed (128). This past season, he was a bright spot on a defense that allowed the most total yards and the most passing yards in the league. The team’s lack of a pass rush (23 sacks) was one reason the Giants allowed 31 touchdown passes.
However, Pro Football Focus gave Rodgers-Cromartie solid grades for his play in 2015, ranking him the 19th best player at his position in the league. Now he has a new playmate in free-agent addition Janoris Jenkins, while defensive end Olivier Vernon, defensive tackle Damon Harrison and inside linebacker Keenan Robinson were also signed to bolster the front seven.
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New head coach Ben McAdoo hopes to lead the Giants back to the playoffs for the first time since 2011, the year quarterback Eli Manning and company knocked off the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. If successful, Rodgers-Cromartie would get a crack at another Super Bowl with yet another team. And we know how the third time can be the charm.