Cromartie named AFC Defensive Player of the Month
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Thursday, Jan 03, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com
Antonio Cromartie finished the season with a bang and on Thursday he was honored for his efforts. The NFL named the second-year cornerback AFC Defensive Player of the Month for December.
Cromartie began the month with a two-interception performance in the Chargers’ 24-10 win at Kansas City. Both of his picks came in the end zone to prevent scores in a game that was ultimately decided by two touchdowns.
A week later in Tennessee, the former Florida State Seminole intercepted Titans quarterback Vince Young deep in Tennessee territory to prevent another possible touchdown.
In the Chargers’ Week 15 win over Detroit, Cromartie recorded his 10th interception of the season and in the process broke the Bolts’ 46-year old single-season interception record. Charlie McNeil, who had nine interceptions in 1961, was the previous record holder. Two days later, the Chargers’ top pick in the 2006 NFL Draft was voted to his first AFC Pro Bowl squad.
Cromartie turned up his game physically down the stretch as well. He recorded a career-high six tackles in the Chargers’ win over the Lions and, a week later, set a new personal mark with seven stops against the Denver Broncos.
In the month of December, the Chargers’ defense gave up just 61 points in five games, an average of 12.2 points per contest. In four out of five games in the final month of the regular season, the Bolts held their opponents under 200-yards passing.
Cromartie is the first Charger to earn Player of the Month honors this season. He was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week recording the longest play in NFL history in Week 9 in Minnesota. His 109-yard return of Ryan Longwell’s missed field goal at the end of the first half is a record that cannot be broken. Cromartie also took home the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award a week later when he intercepted Colts quarterback Peyton Manning three times in the Bolts’ win over the defending Super Bowl champions.
Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie was honored for his four interceptions in December Thursday as he was tabbed AFC Defensive Player of the Month.
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Week 18: Titans vs. Chargers PreviewA preview of the Week 18 matchup between the Titans and the Chargers. |
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Thursday: Antonio CromartieAfter practice Thursday, Pro Bowl CB Antonio Cromartie talks about being awarded his first AFC Defensive Player of the Month for December 2007. |
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Thursday: Norv TurnerAfter practice Thursday, Head Coach Norv Turner comments on Vince Young's play making abilities and he also gives his thoughts on Raiders DT Warren Sapp deciding to retire from the NFL. |
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