Rodgers-Cromartie explains sideline rant

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie lost his cool on the sideline Monday night, pointing at teammates, having a heated talk with defensive coordinator Juan Castillo and stalking away to kneel by himself.

His rant came in the fourth quarter and was the latest and most visible example of how the speedy cornerback has failed to find a good fit on his new team. Rodgers-Cromartie was victimized over and over again by the Bears, including on one early play when he appeared to give up as Earl Bennett caught a pass and continued running for a 14-yard gain, the Eagles safeties stopping him instead of Rodgers-Cromartie.

When he came to the sideline in the fourth quarter, Rodgers-Cromartie was confronted by Castillo, appeared to point to his secondary teammates on on the bench, then moved away from them. Nnamdi Asomugha and then Andy Reid came to calm him down.

"I got frustrated on a play that I should have known was coming and instead I did something else, so you know I kind of went off. (Shoot), I was mad, it was in the heat of the moment, (stuff) is going to happen."

Asked if it was a blown assignment, Rodgers-Cromartie said, "it was a blown assignment, frustrated the way the night was going, all that tied into it."

On the play that he appeared to stop playing, he explained:

"I tapped the ball and when I tapped it I felt the ball hit my hands so I thought I knocked it down, but evidently it tapped it into his hands and I didn't realize it until he was tackled."

Rodgers-Cromartie was supposed to be a Pro Bowl-level cornerback, but he has not performed well and has yet to contribute a big play. At times he appears to run away from tackles.

Part of his play seems due to his struggle adjusting to playing in the slot, but the Eagles have worked to put him on the outside, where he is more experienced, and Rodgers-Cromartie has still not performed.

"I'm a way better corner than I'm playing," he said.

That's what the Eagles thought when they traded for him.