In 2007, Antonio Cromartie of the Chargers emerged as one of the top young cornerbacks in the NFL, intercepting 10 passes. He was named first-team All-Pro. Last year, Cromartie, 25, mysteriously struggled. Mostly, his problems were tied to a nagging hip injury, but this weekend, some off-the-field troubles were revealed. Like dealing with his seven children who are scattered in five different states.

“Last year my head wasn’t in there,” Cromartie said. “I was dealing with my kids and their moms. It had my mind somewhere else.€ There are a lot of directions to be pulled when you have seven kids living in five states. Cromartie has been named in at least five paternity suits in the past two years … All of Cromartie’s children are under 5. He embraces their existence. His locker is adorned with their pictures. He talks with them often.

“The Lord has them here for a reason,” he said. “To not talk about my kids, it would be like I’m trying to hide something.€

He acknowledged it hasn’t always been so, but he is trying to take care of them financially.

“It took me awhile to man up and say, ‘I gotta do what I’m supposed to do,’and accept my responsibilities,” said Cromartie, who is not married or engaged to any of the mothers. “I can’t point a finger at anybody else. I made a lot of bad decisions my first and second year in the league. I point a finger at myself.€

In case you’re scoring at home:

Calvin Murphy: 14 children by nine women (Houston Chronicle)
Travis Henry: 11 children by 10 women (Here via Outside the Lines)
Jason Caffey: 10 kids by eight women (various)
Shawn Kemp: Seven kids by six women (SI)
Antonio Cromartie: Seven kids by five women (Union-Trib)
Scott Skiles: Possibly eight out-of-wedlock kids (Phoenix)
Steve Garvey should be somewhere in there, but we can’t nail down an exact number.

Exorcise program (San Diego Union Trib)