I really hope they can bring Cro back on a 1-2 year deal. He is good enough to play #1 corner on most other teams and is always one of the most athletic players on the field. It's got to be hard playing opposite Revis and our pass rush letting other qb's have all day to throw didn't help. If we are able to upgrade our pass rush and keep him , next year I think he will have really great numbers. With Revis locking down his side, the upgraded pass will cause more throws under pressure to Cro's side. This enables him to use his range, speed, and ballhawking to convert these bad throws into turnovers. I feel that his off-field issues with only help us to get him at a reasonable price. To have him for next season gives us more time to what Wilson is able to do and where he should play.
The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that Braylon and Cromartie are returning. They just strike me as "Rex" guys much moreso than Holmes does.
I have a hard time believing that a) the Jets would offer Cro only 1-2 years and b) Cro accepting a 1-2 year deal from us. He's a young, good, athletic cornerback that came off an above average season, and the market for premier cornerbacks is basically limited to Asomugha and Cromartie, although Cromartie isn't close to Asomugha's level. Cromartie should be getting a solid contract from either the Jets or somebody else. I think a 4 year deal is the minimum, maybe between 28 and 32 million total for Cromartie to stay in Green and White. These are such arbitrary numbers and I have no basis for that contract, but I'm taking a wild guess. Let me know what you guys think.
I totally agree with you that Braylon and Cromartie appear more as "Rex" guys. However, Holmes is a gamechanger and a pure winner. If I were Mike T., it would be so hard for me to let someone of that caliber get away. I wonder what kind of contract Holmes is looking for...
Jets' priority should be bringing back players who actually want to play for Jets. Cro and Edwards fit that description. But I want to see same dedication from players during contract talks.
Honestly, for all we know, Holmes is probably just sitting around blazin' this entire off-season. By all accounts, Cro and Braylon are actually working their tails off and are seemingly passionate about playing for the team. Really though, the X-factor is Cro. You can never had too many DBs in a Rex Ryan defense, and Cro can easily function as the #1 CB for the vast majority of the teams in the league. Giving up a player of Holmes' caliber is extremely difficult seeing as how explosive and game-changing he is, but it all comes down to need: Do you REALLY need two star wideouts when you're a run-first offense? Do you make that choice and sacrifice much-needed CB help on a scheme that relies on pressure from defensive backs to pressure the QB? I love Holmes' style as much as anyone, but we gotta thing big picture here.
Even if he isn't a restricted free agent next year (and the closer we get to the season without a labor agreement, the more likely it becomes that next season gets played under 2010 rules), Antonio Cromartie won't be the top corner on the market. He's probably the consolation prize, but some people might be more inclined to give big money to Jonathan Joseph, who's younger and seems like less of a chore to have around. Nobody likes him more than the Jets, so the odds of somebody else offering more money aren't particularly good.
Totally agree with what is being said here, but I get the impression that Rex LOVES Holmes. Of course with Rex it is hard to tell what that means because he blow smoke up all his players' asses.........I guess we'll see come pre-season, assuming there is one....
Houston has become that team that is always supposed to break out, make that next step. 6-10 in 2010 and 9-7 in 2009 shows that they're headed in the right direction. (sarcasm)
Best one yet- "A_Cromartie31 Antonio Cromartie I'm going to b a JET. Like Rex say we will win the SB this year." "A_Cromartie31 Antonio Cromartie 1st off let me thank the Chargers 4 the opportunity 2 b drafted. Thank u tru Charger fans I luv u all. 2 my new home I dnt wnt 2 leave. JETS"
@A_Cromartie31 Antonio Cromartie I'm going to b a JET. Like Rex say we will win the SB this year. 3 minutes ago
Hopefully this means he'll be down for a 1-2 year deal. That way he get's his ring, gets to play with his boys, then gets to cash out to a shitty team that will overpay for him.
I've been thinking all off-season that Cromartie returns as a Jet in 2011, along with one WR (Edwards IMO), David Harris, and a few of the lower contract guys like Eric Smith, Brodney Pool, etc. He gets underrated in my opinion here a bunch because every corner is not going to look like an All Pro with Revis playing along side of him. Our pass rush was less than great last season and our defense and secondary was plagued with injuries in 2010- however Cromartie was a key factors in the Jets winning 2 road playoff games against two teams with top passing attacks and two of the best QBs to ever play the game. Of course, he's not perfect by any means. He would probably rather spend the day with Philly Stacks than hit somebody on the field. Saying that his tackling is poor would actually be a compliment to him. Rex needs as many quality secondary players as possible. Right now the only quality guys we have in the secondary who are under contract for next season are Revis, Lowery, Wilson, and Leonhard, who is recovering a serious injury. Let's be honest, even if all of the other FA secondary players re-sign with the Jets- a secondary of Revis, Wilson, Lowery, Coleman, Pool, Inhedigbo, Smith, and Pool is not good enough. If Cromartie isn't signed, Rex is going to want another top CB back there.
Yeah, the bold part is the key. It's not like the choice facing the Jets is to either sign Cro or do nothing, and leave the rest of the secondary roster in place. Not good enough. They need Cro there to be able to continue having the ability to have both corners in man coverage when they want to go that route. It affects the whole D, the way Ryan wants it to be organized.
