Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Camp Cro remains open to Jets' defensive backs

BY NICK ST. DENIS

It's not T-shirt official like Mark Sanchez's "Jets West," but it's just as serious.

This summer, New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie has hosted his fellow defensive backs for training sessions at Proactive Sports Performance in Southern California, and he'll continue to do so until the team meets for training camp in Cortland, NY at the end of July. (photo: Jeané Coakley, Twitter)

Our friend Jeané Coakley of SportsNet New York was at "Camp Cro" last week to shoot a set of features which begin airing on SNY's Jets Nation Sunday night, and she was kind enough to share some details on what's going on out there.

Cromartie, who has been training at Proactive since mid-June and will being doing so until July 22, has welcomed any willing participants. Last week, the likes of Kyle Wilson, Josh Bush and Royce Adams were on site, and Coakley says Ellis Lankster and Aaron Berry are expected to show in the coming days.

"[Cromartie] organizes everything and holds all the guys accountable," Coakley told me Friday. "He coaches, he pushes. . . He's like the big brother, making sure they're working hard on the field, their technique is right and also setting up hotels and rental cars for them."

And what kind of workouts are they doing?

"Field work, weight room, boxing yoga, sand dunes," she said. "You name it, these guys are doing it."

The camp isn't totally exclusive to defensive backs, as Jets second-year receiver Stephen Hill, coming off knee surgery, recently told The Star-Ledger he's headed to work out with Cromartie. Hill did say, however, that he'll be the only wideout there.

"I saw the way Cro, during camp last year, I saw his work ethic and how he lasted all year without missing practice," Hill said. "I know that's what I need. I really need that type of workout."

For more on Camp Cro, check out Jets Nation Sunday at 7 and 10 p.m. EST.

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