Antonio Cromartie: Lessons in Adversity

Antonio Cromartie is not just another rags-to-riches story about a promising football player born into a family living in poverty. Cromartie is THE STORY about a young man who has faced adversity most will never know and still has flourished to become one of the brightest young cornerbacks in the NFL.

Pain and strife seem to follow Cromartie in every aspect of his life. The events that have occurred in Cromartie’s life have dictated the path of his journey immensely. Cromartie attended a private Christian school in Tallahassee for his first few years of high school. However, when the family got behind on bills and Cromartie’s tuition was part of the problem, he opted to withdraw to benefit his family. Antonio, if you know anything about his story, has consistently made decisions to benefit his family even if they were not necessarily beneficial to him. Cromartie eventually enrolled at perennial power Lincoln High, a public school in Tallahassee. Cromartie was a huge success at Lincoln being named the 2002 Gatorade National Defensive Player of the Year. Cromartie then signed a letter of intent with Bobby Bowden at Florida State and his childhood dream of being a Nole had been fulfilled. However, because of problems with aggression and constant fighting, Cromartie did not start his freshman or sophomore years at the school. Antonio was even kicked out of a track meet for punching another runner in the face. Things quickly turned around for The Cro in 2004 when he was named an All-ACC selection. However, another family problem would lead to another hard decision, for Antonio, one that would end his college career prematurely. Cromartie had planned to return to Florida State for the 2006 season, but days before his team played in the 2006 Orange Bowl, he got a phone call from his mom, Cassandra, informing him that she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer. With his mom facing a life-threatening illness, and a young son at home, Cromartie decided it was best for his family if he were to leave Florida State and make himself available for the 2006 NFL Draft.

The Problems would not stop there for Cromartie. Cromartie served primarily as a nickel back in his rookie year and at time showed flashes of brilliance and other times he showed the fact he was a rookie. The Cro’s second season proved why many say he is the best athlete ever to come out of Florida State. This is impressive since he played the same position for the Seminoles that was occupied by Deion Sanders whom many consider the best cornerback in the history of the NFL. Cromartie made a huge splash in his second year leading the NFL with 10 interceptions and being named to the Pro-Bowl. Dealing with adversity has been a mainstay in Cromartie’s life but you would be shocked to know that the night before he set the all time NFL record for longest play ever, his mother was kidnapped at gunpoint from her Florida home. Cromartie carried the weight of his family all his life and while he was returning the missed field goal against the Minnesota Vikings to break the record you would never know he was carrying more than the pigskin across the goal line he was carrying the burden that he has his whole life.



Things would look up though for Cromartie his mother made it to safety before the sun rose and Willie Colston, her estranged ex-husband was in jail. A Tallahassee jury would eventually acquit Colston, but his mother was safe and that is all that matters to Cromartie.

People make mistakes and even though some would argue that these actions are an extension of his volatile past, maybe they are a product of what this man has gone through in his short time on earth. Some of his wounds are self-inflicted and some are out of his control, but Cromartie has matured immensely as he is the father of five children. The Cro has endured so much to reach his status as one of the top 5 corners in the league, bar none. You cannot judge this man by any means because you have not walked a mile in his shoes and you probably could not fit them if you tried. Cromartie has made something out of nothing his whole life and continued to strive to be better in every aspect of his life. This mindset should be a goal for all individuals, no matter what your situation may be.

Cromartie is not on pace to reach his mark of 10 interceptions he put up last year but there are signs that he is becoming a more well rounded corner. He has already reached 45 tackles this year and the season is only about 60 percent over, this may not be a high total but The Cro only posted 39 in his pro bowl season last year. The statistics lead you to believe that teams are throwing away from The Cro and even though he does not see as many balls as he did last year he has stepped up his run support, which is very important with the absence of Shawn Merriman from the Charger defense. Cromartie is a Champ Bailey level corner, look for his numbers to once again rival the top corners in the league when the Chargers defense reaches full strength next season. You can say what you want about Antonio but up until now you probably did not know how loyal he is to his family and what he has been through. Antonio Cromartie is more than a football player, he is someone who picked himself up from-the-bootstraps, made sure his family was ok, and made something of himself. Can you say that for yourself? A word to the wise don’t throw Cromartie’s way if you’re an opposing offensive coordinator in the NFL and don’t think for a second that Cromartie won't make a mountain out of a mole hill if given the opportunity.



Peace,


Claude Lina Clayborne Jr.