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The Jets release of cornerback Antonio Cromartie comes as no surprise. But something else should have been a surprise. Let’s take a look.
What surprised me was they signed him in the first place.
I always hear this argument that the Jets were so far under the cap last off-season they had no choice but to spend the money.
As you know, there isn’t just a salary cap, but a salary floor, and if you go below it, you are penalized just like when you go above it.
This was one of the few victories the players not in the 2011 CBA talks. The owners won on almost all fronts. This is what happens when you hire a trial lawyer to negotiate a labor contract.
The current CBA prevents some of the cheaper owners from going way below the cap. You have to spend around 90 percent of the cap.
So we are all well aware the Jets had to spend a decent amount of money to get to the salary cap floor.
But that doesn’t mean you overspend on aging cornerbacks. Two veteran starting corners were WAY overpaid.
And honestly, the Buster Skrine contract to play nickel back was a little too pricey. Honestly, he had a very average season last year. Skrine gave up way too many plays. Yes, he runs 4.3. Yes, he’s really strong and tough for his size. But his instincts and route recognition are suspect. He was often a tick late reacting to routes, and was often caught playing catch-up when the receiver ran away from him.
But paying 31-year-old Antonio Cromartie $7 million last year was strange to me.
Hey, I’m happy for him that he got the money. As they say, you are worth whatever somebody is willing to pay you. So on a personal level good for him. Good for him to land that kind of contract.
However, let me ask y’all a question.
The year before, the Arizona Cardinals signed him to a one-year deal for $3.25 million.
So why, a year later, and at the age of 31, would the Jets give him $7 million?
That makes no sense.
Mike Maccagnan and the Jets contract negotiators better start negotiating smarter, tighter deals.
Just because you have cap space, and have to spend to the floor, doesn’t mean you waste money, and give guys more than they deserve.
Cromartie has lost a step and didn’t have a very good season, and his play contributed to losses. There is no way around it.
The Raider game is a perfect example. Raiders were a very, very average team, and they blew out the Jets, and a big reason for that, aside from losing Ryan Fitzpatrick early to a thumb injury, was the cornerback play. And Cromartie struggled mightily.
In the second quarter, Mike Crabtree had a 36-yard touchdown. He cut away from Cromartie to the middle and then Cromartie missed a tackle after he caught the ball and he was off to the races. Cro tried to crash into him instead of wrapping up. He’s not a great tackler.
In the second quarter, Cromartie was beat down the right sideline on a go-route for a 49-yard touchdown by Andre Holmes. Holmes isn’t that fast. He runs about 4.6.
Mike Maccagnan did a lot of good things last year – like the Fitz and Brandon Marshall trades. And picking Leonard Williams.
But the three cornerback contracts were over the top, and should be lessons for the GM moving forward.
Getting tougher with agents. Walk softly and carry a big stick.
Who was giving either starting corner anywhere near what the Jets gave them?
Nobody.
I don’t get what the Jets were thinking going old at both starting corner spots. Bad plan.
And it cost them.
Not only in their bank account.
But on the field.
February 22, 2106
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