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Cromartie delivers number 10

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Sunday, Dec 16, 2007
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

As Antonio Cromartie peeled himself from the turf Sunday afternoon following his third-quarter interception, he thought about breaking into the hula dance he’s pulled out on various occasions this season. Then he paused, smiled and headed to the sideline.
 
“Voting is done now,” Cromartie said, referring to the Pro Bowl.
 
Cromartie will find out Tuesday afternoon whether or not his NFL-best 10 interceptions are enough to send him to the Pro Bowl in just his second professional season. One thing that was determined Sunday afternoon is Cromartie’s place in the team record books.
 
When the Florida State product went up and grabbed a Jon Kitna pass out of midair, it was his 10th theft of the season, establishing a new single-season team record. It was a nice accomplishment for the team’s 2006 first-round pick, but he promises that he’s not finished. 
 
“Records come and go,” Cromartie said. “The biggest thing for me is to continue to be consistent and play how I’m supposed to play.”
 
Cromartie’s interception was one of five by the Chargers Sunday afternoon, pushing their league-leading team total to 27 on the season. That’s the most they’ve had as a team since they posted 28 in 1979.
 
Prior to the season, Cromartie set a personal goal to reach 10 interceptions. While that may have seemed like a lofty goal to many people, Cromartie never doubted he could get there. Sunday afternoon he did. 
 
“I believed it,” said Cromartie, who also recovered a fumble on a kickoff Sunday. “You don’t put down goals that you want to achieve unless you believe. I put down goals that I know I can reach and just go out and play every week.”
 
While his sudden ascension has been one of the many bright stories surrounding the Chargers this season, neither Cromartie nor any of his teammates are surprised with the way he’s playing.  
 
“He’s something,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “I’ve known ever since he’s been here that he had it in him to make those type of plays. You knew once he got going making them that you get that confidence and you just feel like you’re going to make those kind of plays every week. He’s doing that.”
 
Sunday marked the third-consecutive game in which Cromartie has recorded an interception. He has four picks in his last three games, and more importantly, the Chargers are 6-0 this season in games in which Cromartie records an interception. 
 
“He’s got such great ball skills,” said Head Coach Norv Turner. “He’s got such great speed and athletic ability. I can’t say enough about Cromartie and the way he’s played.”
 
Cromartie narrowly missed another takeaway that would have given him his fourth multi-interception game this season. On the final play of the first half, Kitna lofted a Hail Mary to the Chargers’ goal line that Cromartie got his hands on. Instead of trying to put the ball away, Cromartie swiped at the ball in hopes of getting it to the ground. It instead fell into the hands of Calvin Johnson, who was knocked down one-yard shy of the end zone as time expired in the quarter. 
 
“I was just trying to get the ball out and throw it on the ground,” Cromartie said. “If I had pulled it to my chest I probably could have caught it, but in that situation you’re just trying to bat it down. I’m just glad he didn’t score.”
 
In his postgame interviews, Cromartie used the phrase “having fun” roughly a dozen times within about a five minute period. On Tuesday, he’ll find out if he’ll say “Aloha” to more fun in Hawaii.  
 
“We’ll see,” Cromartie said. “I can’t think too much about it. It would be special, but I’m preparing every week and having some success. Hopefully it will continue. That’s all I’m worried about.”




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