Denver Broncos cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie created quite the stir when he said he would consider retiring if the Broncos win the Super Bowl on Sunday. A good night of sleep seems to have him thinking a little differently.
Rodgers-Cromartie, who is just 27, admitted Monday that he had considered hanging up the cleats this offseason, even after putting up one of the best seasons of his career. During Tuesday’s Super Bowl XLVIII Media Day, the Pro Bowl corner quickly backpedaled from those comments, though.
“They misunderstood what I’m saying. I’ve got a one-year deal,” Rodgers-Cromartie said, per NFL.com. “There’s been plenty of times when guys get a one-year deal, and it doesn’t pan out, and that’s it.”
Cromartie signed a one-year deal with the Broncos during the offseason and has been arguably the best corner on the team this season. He managed 31 tackles, 15 passes defended and three interceptions this season, leading the Broncos in passes defended and interceptions. After such a season, the six-year pro seemed to be setting himself up for a big-money, long-term deal this offseason, but any thoughts of retirement might scare some teams away.
Cromartie still didn’t sound like he was 100 percent sold on returning for next season, but he certainly sounded more optimistic about it. When asked about the possibility of being offered a long-term deal after the Super Bowl, he seemed ready to make that commitment.
“I’m taking off,” Cromartie said of the possibility, making a motion like an airplane lifting off a runway. “But I’m going to prepare for whatever if this is the last go around.”
Teams likely will be lining up to offer Cromartie just that this offseason — that is, if he wants to keep playing, of course.
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