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New Jersey – The Jets got some news today – Antonio Cromartie’s knee injury isn’t that serious. The announcement was made by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Let’s take a closer look.
Some are into “confirming” stories that Schefter reports with the team.
Like that is somehow newsy that you “confirmed” it.
It’s nothing to hang your hat on.
If Schefter reports it, that’s it for me.
I’m not into sloppy seconds.
I think Schefter used to be represented by Tom Condon. Cromartie has the same agent.
I think that is conflict of interest, but what the heck do I know.
I’m not here to defend John Idzik, but one of these insiders trashed him, and to me, it wasn’t just about his personnel decisions. It was because he wouldn’t play ball with him, wouldn’t give him stuff.
I’ll scratch your back and you scratch mine. These cats don’t trash people who give them stuff.
Brian Cashman is almost never ripped by the New York media. You do the math.
Getting back to Cro.
It’s definitely news.
It’s good news for him and his family.
And I never wish an injury on anybody, so on a human level, I’m glad for him that it’s a minor injury.
From a football standpoint, we will see if it’s “good” news.
As I told you guys over and over throughout the summer, at 31, Cromartie has lost a step.
He got beat deep in camp way too often, and you don’t need to be a track coach to see his days of running 4.4 are behind him
And he got beat deep in the Jets opener by speedster Travis Benjamin for a 54-yard touchdown.
Some of are pushing the narrative that safety Jaiquawn Jarrett was supposed to help Cro on this play, and didn’t get over. That is bull.
This was on Cromartie, and Todd Bowles confirmed that today.
Cromartie struggles against small, quick and fast receivers for two reasons. One, he doesn’t run as well as he used to, and also, with his long legs, and some hip stiffness, he has to gather to change direction, and they often cut away from him.
Yes, Cromartie had that Pick Six against the Giants in the preseason, and he deserves credit for that. However, we have to keep in mind that was an awful pass by Eli Manning, who clearly wasn’t on the same page with the receiver, James Jones, who was new to the Giants at the time, and actually no longer with them.
Marcus Williams and Buster Skrine looked better in camp than the veteran cornerback.
But would Todd Bowles ever have the gumption to replace Cromartie, and deal with the media firestorm that would follow?
Just like I wonder if he would ever replace DeMario Davis with Erin Henderson, who is probably the better player.
These kind of moves are tough, even for a straight-shooter like Bowles.
But the bottom line is winning and not appeasing.
It will be interesting to see what Bowles does when entrenched starters don’t get the job done.
Will he has the wherewithal to pull the plug if it’s necessary. Easier said that done.
September 14, 2015
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