Buster Skrine to start camp opposite Darrelle Revis

The New York Jets will have a positional competition to determine who replaces departed cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

But for now, one guy will start camp as the top candidate to work opposite Darrelle Revis.

"Obviously, Buster [Skrine] played the most, so he'll probably start out there," Bowles said Tuesday, via Dom Cosentino of NJ.com. "But we'll see, as training camp comes, what the competition brings, and who wins it."

Skrine was a key cog in the secondary as the primary nickel back.

Marcus Williams, who led the Jets with six interceptions last season, will be in the mix, along with a couple other familiar names...

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Jets cut Cro... CB willing to return for a pay cut?

The New York Jets announced Monday they have released veteran cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who re-joined Gang Green last year.

It was a salary cap-clearing move, and one to be expected. The question now is whether the Jets will completely move on from the ten-year pro or if they'll try to re-sign him at a reduced salary.

Via Darryl Slater of NJ.com:

[I]f that option comes up, Cromartie is expected to be willing to take less money to return, because he loves the Jets organization and coach Todd Bowles, according to a league source.

According to Slater, his release saved the team $8 million in cap room for 2016.

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With Cro doubtful, Milliner roster move a 'no-brainer'

After a nine-season run, Antonio Cromartie's tough-guy streak may come to an end against the Buffalo Bills.

Cro hasn't missed a game due to injury his entire career, but the veteran cornerback has been absent from practice all week and is officially listed as doubtful for the team's prime-time home game Thursday night.

According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, Cromartie's deep thigh bruise sustained last week made Gang Green's decision to bring fellow cornerback Dee Milliner back from short-term IR an easy one.

Per Cimini:

"The Jets had until 4 p.m. to make a decision on Milliner, who would've gone on season-ending IR if they hadn't activated him. Chances are, they would've made the move anyway, but Cromartie's injury situation made it a no-brainer."

While Milliner is a long shot to start, Cimini posed "he could have a larger role than anticipated."

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RPT: Jets' Cromartie will be active against Colts

Antonio Cromartie is a go.

NFL.com's Kimberly Jones reported two hours prior to kickoff that Cromartie, who was listed as questionable heading into the week, will be active Monday night when his New York Jets take on the Indianapolis Colts.

Cromartie went down last weekend against the Cleveland Browns, suffering a sprained knee. The Jets were fearful the injury was worse, but an MRI eliminated any concern of an ACL or MCL ailment.

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Cro backs Brady, bags Goodell on suspension decision

Yes, you read that correctly -- a Jet and a Patriot are on the same side of an issue.

A number of players across the league have come out in Tom Brady's defense following Roger Goodell's decision to suspend the Super Bowl champion quarterback for four games for his alleged role in the Deflategate scandal.

Thursday, Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie added his two cents on the commissioner's arbitrary punishment.

"Nobody's safe," Cromartie said via ESPN.com. "Nobody's safe no matter who you are. Roger is going to do what he wants to do. It don’t matter what the rules say. He's going to make his own rules as he goes. And it shouldn't be like that. 

"In the rule book, there's no suspension in the rules. There's only a $25,000 fine. So I don't see how you can try to lay the hammer down on someone when the rule states for itself there’s no suspension for it."

READ MORE, via WEEI.com

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Cro gives Sherman advice on being a top corner

New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie doesn't think Richard Sherman is better than Darrelle Revis. And he apparently doesn't think it's close.

In fact, Cro had some advice Tuesday for the vocal Seattle Seahawks defensive back if he wants to compare himself to Revis--or anyone else, for that matter.

"I would tell him, go follow the No. 1 receiver," Cromartie told SiriusXM NFL Radio, via Newsday. "Follow him around for a whole entire game and see what you can do. Darrelle Revis has done that his whole career. I've done that. [Cardinals cornerback] Patrick Peterson has done it. [Browns cornerback] Joe Haden has done it.

"He's the only defensive back that hasn't," he continued. "If you want to label yourself as the No. 1 corner or the best corner in the NFL, follow the best guy on every single team."

[READ MORE from Newsday]

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Revis gets wish, Jets pair him with Cromartie

After Darrelle Revis signed on the dotted line with the New York Jets Wednesday night, his next task was to get in touch with fellow cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

“I am going to get in contact with him hopefully very soon here and try to convince him to hopefully come back and join our Batman and Robin tandem that we had a couple years ago,” Revis said, via the NY Daily News.

Turns out, it didn't take much convincing.

Something like a dynamic duo.. Happy to shutdown QB's with my bro @revis24 again! pic.twitter.com/yQyEgKobfF
— ANTONIO CROMARTIE (@CRO31) March 12, 2015

And all of a sudden, the pair is back in the Big Apple and poised to man a secondary that had been in dire need of help. What's more, the Jets inked former Cleveland Browns corner Busker Skrine, and Dee Milliner, the No. 1 corner just days ago, is now by default fourth on the depth chart.

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Gang Green inks CB Skrine to four-year deal

It was well known the New York Jets were in the market for free agent cornerbacks, and they landed one in the opening minutes of the free agency period Tuesday.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Gang Green reached an agreement with 25-year-old former Brown Buster Skrine, a deal which ESPN's Rich Cimini reported is worth $25 million, with $13 million in guarantees, over four years.

Some have pinned New York as a favorite to land prized free agent cornerback Darrelle Revis, and the team is reportedly in the running to sign Antonio Cromartie — both of whom are former Jets.

If either (or both) happens, first-year head coach Todd Bowles will have two solid veterans on the outside to frame his defense, a unit that could certainly use the help after allowing more than 250 yards per game through the air last season.

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Idzik says Jets 'recognize we have a need at corner'

BY NICK ST. DENIS

This time last year, the New York Jets had Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie manning their cornerback depth chart.

This time this year, it's Dee Milliner and a handful No. 2/nickel back prospects. At the very least, the team's general manager sees that as somewhat of a concern, as coach Rex Ryan didn't have much of an urgent tone earlier this month when discussing the topic.

"We recognize we have a need at corner," John Idzik said Wednesday, via NJ.com. "But there's plenty of road ahead of us before we get to camp."

Jets' CB options thinning as Ro-Cro heads to Giants

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

If Jets fans weren't worrying about acquiring a cornerback before Monday, it may be a good time to start.

Defensive backs have been a hot commodity in free agency thus far, and Gang Green seems pretty intent on finding a replacement for veteran corner Antonio Cromartie. Problem is, options are becoming few and far between -- aside from Cro himself.

The team's latest attempt at an upgrade, soon-to-be 28-year-old Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, was in New York for days visiting both the Jets and the G-Men. He landed with the latter, however, signing a five-year deal worth nearly $40 million, according to Adam Schefter.

Cro to NFL: We're going to smoke weed regardless

BY NICK ST. DENIS

It's widely believed that marijuana use among NFL players is prevalent.

And regardless of the drug being on the league's substance abuse policy, at least one (and we're sure many) of the NFL's participating members doesn't see that changing any time soon.

"They need to just let it go. We're just going to do it anyway," New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie recently told ThisIs50.com, via NJ.com. "They just need to let it go.

Like he did with Sanchez, Cro goes all-in on Geno

BY NICK ST. DENIS

If Antonio Cromartie is anything, he's loyal.

Cromartie, who vehemently defended Mark Sanchez in the media multiple times last season, has now thrown his full support behind New York Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith.

The veteran cornerback, who wants to retire with Gang Green but wouldn't be surprised if he were cut due to cap restrictions, told NFL Network Monday that he thinks Smith is a franchise quarterback.

RPT: Cro tells teammates he expects Jets to cut him

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Antonio Cromartie finished the 2013 season unsure what the status of his knee is. Apparently, he's a little more certain about his fate with the New York Jets.

The soon-to-be 30-year-old cornerback expects to be cut by the team he's spent the last four seasons with, telling teammates as much, according to ESPN New York.

Cromartie said last month he wants to retire with the Jets. According to the latest report, he would be happy re-signing with the team after testing free agency, assuming he doesn't find a better gig elsewhere.

Cro hopes hip will require a 'cleanup job' at worst

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Antonio Cromartie knows his ailing hip will require a more intrusive checkup at the conclusion of the season.

He just hopes the next step isn't anything "too serious."

"Hopefully I don't have to have surgery, or if it is, it's something that's a cleanup job and easy to come by and go from there," Cromartie said Thursday, via ESPN.

Cromartie won't use injuries as an excuse

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Antonio Cromartie hasn't been the same player this year.

Cromartie's stellar play last year in the absence of fellow cornerback Darrelle Revis made Revis somewhat dispensable, as the Jets still boasted the league's second-best pass defense without him.

Since then, Cromartie has been subpar. He's also been dinged up, but he won't admit his hip and knee ailments have had anything to do in his drop in play.

Antonio Cromartie's film study on Dee Milliner

BY NICK ST. DENIS

When the New York Jets drafted Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, veteran Antonio Cromartie acquired some of Milliner's college tape. The kind you watch.

"You always want to be up on the guys that you want bring in, especially a rookie," Cromartie told reporters Monday, via TheJetsBlog. "Being the veteran guy, I have to make sure I try to bring him on as much as I can."

Cromartie was pleased to see Milliner's press ability -- something he expected watching a Nick Saban defense -- as well as his success against the run and his ball skills. Most importantly, Cromartie was able to get a head start on some things he could help Milliner with once the youngster finally took the field with his teammates.

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.

Hill eyes Holmes, Cro for sophomore schooling

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

While displaying some of the inconsistencies typical of a freshman wideout, Stephen Hill showed some flashes in his first season with the New York Jets.

But after an electric start that saw him snag five receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns in his first game, Hill battled through injury into December, managing only 21 catches and three scores before hitting IR. (photo: Marianne O'Leary, Flickr)

Now, it seems that only minor issues linger regarding the 22-year-old's knee surgery and he will be present for minicamp this week. And to aid in his preparation, Hill has been bending the ears of some veteran teammates.

Jets restructure Cromartie to free up more than $4M

BY NICK ST. DENIS

New York Jets general manager John Idzik is using every resource to put his team in a favorable salary cap situation.

He's done a pretty good job, so far.

Along with cutting out nearly $4 million in Gang Green's 2013 cap number via a release of Sione Po'uha and another $3.5 million by restructuring Santonio Holmes's contract, Idzik saved the Jets more than $4 million more in cap space by getting cornerback Antonio Cromartie to restructure, via NYJetsCap.com. (photo: Matt Britt, Flickr)

Cro wants Jets to retain Landry for his fear factor

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Route-runners are aware of where New York Jets safety LaRon Landry is at all times. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie likes that.

Landry, the Jets' hard-hitting safety, is slated to hit free agency in March. (photo: Pedro Cambra, Flickr)

"... I would like to get LaRon Landry back as well," Cromartie told Brian Costello of the NY Post Saturday while answering a question about his thoughts on Darrelle Revis-gate. "We need somebody on the back end that can cause fear for the receivers and tight ends when they're coming across the middle."