Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
December 11, 2017
Q: What do you think about Eli Apple tweeting during the game?
A: I didn’t even know about it. He tweeted during the game? It depends on what he said. What did he say?
Q: He retweeted a clip of the running back scoring the long touchdown for Dallas.
A: That’s a tough one. I don’t know man. They probably had that kind of connection, but to do it during the game, that’s probably bad timing. But if that’s his brother or his friend or somebody he considers close like that, guys are always retweeting guys that they are like brothers with. So I can understand a little bit of it.
Q: It’s against the NFL rules to tweet during the game.
A: During the game? Only you know the rules, man. I just play football, to be honest.
Q: You don’t see the need to tweet during the game?
A: No, I don’t know about that. During halftime, I thought you could use your phone, I don’t know. I’m not clear on the rules. But hey, that’s tough.
Q: What do you make of what Eli Apple has gone through this year?
A: I would say it’s been tough, man, on and off the field. Being a young guy, it’s kind of hard to deal with those things if you don’t have somebody that you can lean on in the locker room, that’s why I always try to talk to him and just let him know I’ve been there where you’ve been, trust me. He’s seen me go about my way and I try to tell him that from the standpoint of doing things the wrong way and I don’t want to see him go down that path. So I always try to stay on him.
Q: Do you think he’s gotten that message?
A: It’s hard to tell. I can say he comes in here with the right mindset as far as coming in every day. He puts his stuff on, he goes out there and practices and he does what is asked of him. So I think for the most part, he gets it.
Q: How much do you think he’s rubbed guys the wrong way at times?
A: I can’t speak for other guys, but me personally, he’s cool with me because I understand. I used to be that guy, you feel me? When you’re going through something, sometimes you don’t know really how to act out so you act a certain way and I get that. It just takes somebody to hone in and make you feel loved. The other opponent is, it’s a profession and you have guys in here that are professionals and strictly about their business. So if it seems like a guy is not doing what he’s asked to do, he kind of rubs them the wrong way. I just understand it.
Q: What changed for you?
A: I’ve been on about seven teams. At some point, you are going to get it. That’s why I’m trying to get the guys, that’s my main thing now. Being the older man, trying to get to the younger guys and tell them, man, you might not be fortunate enough to do it my way. I was fortunate that I had enough on film for a guy to take a chance on me. But for the most part, it don’t always work like that. You don’t really get that second chance like that. I learned through a hard experience and I don’t want nobody to go through that.
Q: Eli (Apple) doesn’t have enough on film yet, does he?
A: He has enough I think. Tall, speed and he shows his physicality. You see it during times where he gets up there and he can challenge anybody. He definitely doesn’t shy away from contact so I think he has enough on film, I do.
Q: Do you worry about him?
A: No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Sometimes. But for the most part, I know he’ll get it because I know he loves football. I can hear it in his voice when he talks so it’ll hone in at some point.
Q: Does it frustrate you?
A: No, I can’t get mad at it because I still got to worry about going out there and being on that field. For the most part, all you can do is continue to talk to a guy and if they use you, if they lean on you, that’s on them.
Q: What is the percentage of guys you have seen come back from a tough season to fill their potential?
A: It ain’t high, I can tell you that much, but it’s possible. I think it all depends on that person and how much they’re willing to take whatever is going to come at them and use it to better themselves. It always depends on that man.
Q: Sometimes does it have to happen somewhere else?
A: Yeah, but you don’t want that. Coming from a guy that’s been on multiple teams, you don’t want to try to go to different teams, start over again, try to prove yourself again. If you get drafted somewhere, you really want to stay there because if you get drafted there, they truly have your best interest. If you go somewhere else, you get lost in the shuffle and all kinds of stuff.
Q: Have you told him that?
A: Yeah, oh yeah. Definitely and he don’t want to leave here. It’s been hard, but for the most part, I know he loves being a Giant and I know that for a fact.
Q: Were you surprised he hasn’t been out there the past couple of weeks?
A: That’s all on the coaching staff. That has nothing to do with us. For the most part, we go out there and practice and whatever they come out and say, that’s how we go out and play.
Q: You can use him out there though, right?
A: Definitely, heck yeah. He still has all this potential. We definitely could use him, but I understand from a coaching standpoint you got guys like Brandon (Dixon) and Ross (Cockrell) who go out there every week, never complain and they work hard, you just can’t put them on the back burner so I get it.
Q: Talent doesn’t count for everything?
A: No, no, no, no, no, no.
Q: What kind of difference does Nick Foles make in the Philadelphia offense?
A: I played with Nick Foles. I was there for two years with him, so I know what he can do. I know he’s a good quarterback. I think the system is going to function just the same. It’s still the same game to me with him in there.
Q: What did you like about Foles when he was the quarterback there?
A: He can get that ball down the field. He gets it out fast, he’s got a big arm, he can make all of the throws and you still have that running game behind him, so it’s going to be tough.
