Premium – Will “Cro” be back?

Should Antonio “Cro” Cromartie be back with the New York Jets in 2014. Let’s take a look at this situation . . .

Cromartie likely will be released before March 13, when he’s owed a $5 million bonus. It would be shocking if he sees that bonus.

But I do think he will be back with the Jets, much like Calvin Pace.

Pace was released from the Jets on February 19, 2013. This saved the Jets $8.56 million in cap space.  He was brought back on a one-year deal in April.

I see a similar situation with Cromartie.

Like Pace, he’s going to find slim pickings in free agency.

Ever since the new CBA was signed, teams have shied away from giving older free agents big money.

It’s hard to see much of a market for Cromartie.

First of all, he has a chronic hip problem.

Now he said today he won’t need surgery, but that doesn’t mean it’s in the rear-view mirror. The issue goes back to his San Diego days.

Secondly, he’s coming off a poor season. The Pro Bowl trip was just a testament to a messed up voting process. He was often playing way too far off receivers, perhaps due to the hip.

And also, he needs to be more physical, whether it’s his tackling (he misses too many tackles) or in bump-and-run. If he is brought back, he needs to be told he needs to step up in these areas.

Cro’s a different kind of guy. He’s not every team’s cup of tea, so that is another reason he likely won’t be a hot commodity in he hits the open market.

But you know what, with all that being said, the Jets need him.

Too many people are getting ahead of themselves with Dee Milliner.

I keep hearing he turned the corner at the end of the year.

There is no question that he played better, but he still has a long way to go, and as one scout told me recently, “He’s a #2 cornerback, not a #1 corner.”

Let’s remember something about the Miami game in Week 17, while Milliner did something impressive things, including two picks and five passes defensed, he was beat for a touchdown by Mike Wallace, and almost gave up a second, but Ryan Tannehill overthrew the speed wide out. Milliner was soundly beat on this play.

Don’t get me wrong, I think he has the potential to be solid, but he’s got a lot of work to do, especially on his technique.

And it’s hard to say what the Jets have behind Milliner. Kyle Wilson is somewhat inconsistent, and Darrin Walls, Isaiah Trufant and Ellis Lankster are all free agents.

So this is a pretty thin situation.

I wrote in the last issue, if a cornerback is the best player on the board at 18, like Oklahoma State’s Justin Gilbert or Michigan State’s Darqueze Dennard, I’d take him. The Jets should not reach for a wide receiver. Pick the best player on your value board – it’s always the best approach.

And I’d bring back “Cro.”

I think he will be cut before the bonus kicks in, but I think he will be back.

January 30, 2014

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