'Kid' DRC growing up on field

[azdad1978]

by Kent Somers - Aug. 19, 2009 07:29 PM
The Arizona Republic


FLAGSTAFF - The kid who could become the NFL's next great cornerback would like everyone to know that he's going to remain a kid, no matter what.

You might have arrived at that conclusion yourself if you happened to see the go-kart sized car Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie brought to Cardinals training camp, the red one with his number, 29, on it. Or if you saw him walking around the Northern Arizona campus wearing his "Toy Story" backpack.

"Yes, sir, I have a lot of little kiddie backpacks," Rodgers-Cromartie said when asked about the one featuring Woody the Cowboy.

The backpack, complete with telescopic handle, is something you would see on a kindergartner, not a first-round draft pick who started 11 games as a rookie last season and intercepted six passes, including two in the playoffs.

Not that Rodgers-Cromartie cares.

"I'm still a kid," said Rodgers-Cromartie, 23. "I don't care how many years I've played or what profession I'm in. I'm going to be me and that's part of me, just being a kid."

His teammates have teased about the miniature car, the backpacks and the occasional impromptu dance he performs, but mostly they look at him and smile.

"He always keeps everything real light, doesn't take anything too serious," safety Adrian Wilson said. "You always have to have a couple guys like that on the team, so he's good to have."

On the back of the 6-foot-2-inch Rodgers-Cromartie, the backpack fits easily between his shoulder blades, even with the handle extended, as he prefers. The bag doesn't hold much, but, then, it's not asked to.

"Notebook and pencils, that's all I need," Rodgers-Cromartie said.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/articles/2009/08/19/20090819spt-cards.html

 

[PoolBoy]

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

 

[Redheart]

*sigh*

Loopy flippin' cornerback...

 

[RugbyMuffin]

*sigh*

Loopy flippin' cornerback...

Damn right! But the guy can play.

Played rugby with a guy like that. Frickin Micky Mouse ears and all! He said he "liked to feel like he still has innocence left in him, and see the world for how amazing it is", and that "our society offers him to be that way, it makes him happy, so why not."

Funny thing is, when he got out on the field he was an absolute, intense, monster of a player.

Nice guy too.

 

[cardpa]

DRC has become my favorite Cardinal player. I get it. I happen to have a Buzz Lightyear toy that talks and flashes lights. I also have several others that I just wanted to have to have.

I've read all the Harry Potter books. Bottom line is the kid still lives inside of you. Rugby Muffin's friend is right it makes you feel there is some innocence left in you. You also never forget how to relate to children and why they have so much fun with this stuff. My late wife was no different as sge had all kind of stuffed Winnie the Pooh characters. It allows you to see life through innocent eyes.

Some may call it weird but I call it just having fun!

 

[lauraw]

Praise the child in all of us!

 

[Mitch]

Praise the child in all of us!

Amen!

 

[Arizona's Finest]

As long as the kid is shutting down one side of the field he can do whatever he wants in my book.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

And it could be worse. Much worse.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4411228

 

[RugbyMuffin]

As long as the kid is shutting down one side of the field he can do whatever he wants in my book.

Yep.

That is what I told Adam. Just make sure the oppositions wing doesn't turn the corner, and to right straight & fast when you get the ball, and I could care less what you do when you get home.

 

[Redheart]

Alright you lovers of loopiness...but if he starts wearing pink lip-stick and growing his fingernails out, there is going to be an issue...at least with his fingernails...

"The Kid" has unreal acceleration; I swear he made that interception of Hasselbeck last year look like a video-game fluke, who changes direction like that and covers that much space?

I just can't help but wish I heard more a Fitz-attitude from his lips and actions; I want to read stories how he is a serious student, working hard, driven individual with unbelievable god-given physical talent. A CB determined to set the next "gold-standard" in CB's.

Don't get me wrong, it was cute reading about his facination with grade-school back-packs, but it is not the same thing I was hoping for...oh well, I will see how the pack-back and unbelievable god-given physical talent approach pans out.

 

[Redsz]

What we are seeing out of Larry Fitzgerald didn't happen over night, though.

DRC is still young and learning. But I have read alot about how he has changed his approach to preparation after spending time with Adrian Wilson. I'm sure you have also read the articles about Fitzgerald vs DRC.

I agree, you have to take the wait and see approach with this issue. So far so good.

 

[joshstmarie]

So are some of you implying that youre worried about him because he likes to have fun? why so serious?

 

[187]

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

If he didn't leap frog over Ralph Brown then he has absolutely ridiculous hops. He had to have...right?!

 

[AsUdUdE]

If he didn't leap frog over Ralph Brown then he has absolutely ridiculous hops. He had to have...right?!

Thse HAVE to be photo shopped right??

if he really did that, I would be amazed, I mean thats Adrian Hops right there..

 

[187]

Thse HAVE to be photo shopped right??

if he really did that, I would be amazed, I mean thats Adrian Hops right there..

I real do not think it's photoshopped and DRC definitely has Adrian Wilson hops. I just googled it and A-Dub had a 39.5" vert at the combine and DRC's was 38. If he leap frogged over Brown's shoulders I think he could easily get that high off the ground, it's just a crazy looking shot.

 

[PoolBoy]

i wish the second one wasn't real, i really do. hahaha

 

[freebyrd]

it ok guys he's not gaypink nail polish notwithstanding

 

[cardsfanmd]

If he didn't leap frog over Ralph Brown then he has absolutely ridiculous hops. He had to have...right?!

Thse HAVE to be photo shopped right??

if he really did that, I would be amazed, I mean thats Adrian Hops right there..

Those are real IMO.

 

[CardLogic]

And it could be worse. Much worse.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4411228

Another example of the excellent job being done by the Cardinal's scouting staff/draft board.

It's my opinion, the character of the individuals on the team has had a lot to do with the success of the team. Whisenhunt deserves some credit for molding them also. But the shaping of this Cardinals squad was begun prior to Whisenhunt's tenure.

Character does matter.

 

[Redheart]

What we are seeing out of Larry Fitzgerald didn't happen over night, though.

DRC is still young and learning. But I have read alot about how he has changed his approach to preparation after spending time with Adrian Wilson. I'm sure you have also read the articles about Fitzgerald vs DRC.

I agree, you have to take the wait and see approach with this issue. So far so good.

He was beaten like a drum last night. I hope he can learn from it, because the league was watching...

 

[AZ Native]

Yeah he was. But that happens to young players. The key is to learn from it and make yourself that much better. Greatness does not come easy.

Michael Jordan said: I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.