Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
November 1, 2017
Q: What was your reaction to the Janoris Jenkins suspension?
A: I couldn’t believe it because I know what kind of guy Jackrabbit is. He’s a guy that comes in here every day and he competes with the best. He shows all of us in the locker room what a real competitor is. So not knowing the situation, I really don’t know, to be honest.
Q: Have you ever seen anything like this?
A: Nah, never. I think the people that got suspended got to take ownership to it. They got to own what they do. There is consequences to everything you do. Whether you feel like you’re right or wrong, there are certain ways to handle things and if you do it the wrong way, you got to pay for it.
Q: The perception is it is a lack of respect towards Ben (McAdoo).
A: Nah, you can’t say that. If that was the case, it would be haywire, a lot of chaos. I think guys show up to work every day with the same energy, with the same mindset of coming out here and competing. So it’s definitely not disrespect.
Q: Is it just a coincidence that it was two defensive backs?
A: Definitely, definitely. You can’t pinpoint who it’s falling upon. I just think it’s been that type of year. All you can do is keep going out and just try to finish it the right way.
Q: How much does the frustration of being 1-6 play into this?
A: Very. You’ve been losing, you get guys suspended, you’re not always at your best when you’re on the field. That’s very frustrating, especially when you know what you’re capable of doing.
Q: Do you think the losing has contributed to this stuff?
A: Nah, nah man. At the end of the day, we come here every day with the same mindset. Like I said, losing makes you that much more hungry to win. At the end of the day, this is a profession and we want to win but we just got to find a way.
Q: When you came back did you address your teammates?
A: Of course.
Q: What did you say?
A: I apologized, but for the most part I just thanked them for not allowing a situation that really got out of control that really shouldn’t have even got like that not affect all of this and still go out there and play. I told them I was sorry and I’m glad to be back and all of them accepted that.
Q: Have you heard from Janoris yet?
A: Yeah, that’s my partner. I talk to him, but it ain’t going to be about football. It’s just off the field. As long as you’re good and you hit him with a text, he’ll hit you back. He said I’m good, you leave it at that.
Q: He didn’t address the team though yet?
A: No. I’m quite sure throughout the week he’ll reach out to us because at the end of the day, we know what he means to us on that field and to lose him is a big blow. But I know he’ll text the group just like I did before the game and during the week and say y’all go out there and do what you’re supposed to do.
Q: What was the message from coach today?
A: Just that everybody has to be held to a standard. At the end of the day, we’re professionals and we got to act like it.
Q: Did Janoris explain what happened?
A: Nah, I didn’t talk to him about it.
Q: Does he seem upset at all?
A: Nah, nah, nah. He is in good spirits from what I can tell.
Q: How are you guys going to consistently win games with the way you’re currently comprised?
A: I can’t answer that, man. All I can tell is we just got to go out there and keep fighting. I think every man has to play with a little more something. Get above the X’s and O’s and find a way.
Q: Will you step in for Janoris now?
A: Nah, I don’t know. That ain’t my decision. I’m just out there grinding every day. You say do this, I’m going to go do it. If you say sit down, I’m going to sit down. It is what it is.
I get it..towing the company line...just seems disingenuous.
A: I can’t answer that, man. All I can tell is we just got to go out there and keep fighting. I think every man has to play with a little more something. Get above the X’s and O’s and find a way.
Reading between the lines one could easily conclude he has no confidence in the game-plans at this point.