Antonio Cromartie open to restructuring

[Heismanberg]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/new-york-jets-cornerback-antonio-cromartie-definitely-open-to-redoing-deal-122613

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP)

Antonio Cromartie wants to stay right where he is.

For the rest of his career.

The cornerback will count nearly $15 million against the New York Jets' salary cap next season, so it's possible the team could be looking to cut Cromartie or have him rework his deal -- something he's willing to do.

"Definitely," Cromartie said Thursday. "This is where I want to be. My family loves it here. I think the biggest thing, for me, is just to make sure that going into this last game, I'm playing to the best of my ability.

At the end of the day, no matter what you do, your last name is your resume. That's how I want to go about it. I'm here. My family wants to be here, and this is where I want to retire."

Wide receiver Santonio Holmes, whose contract carries a high cap number next season, also recently said he'd be open to reworking his deal.

Cromartie, signed through next year, has restructured his contract before. He agreed this past offseason to drop his base salary from $7 million to about $840,000 -- with an $8.5 million signing bonus spread out over two years.

Under the current construction of the deal, the Jets could potentially save about $9.5 million on their cap number for next season if they cut him.

Cromartie, 29, is in his fourth year with the Jets after playing his first four NFL seasons with the San Diego Chargers. He has assumed the role formerly held by Darrelle Revis as the team's No. 1 cornerback, taking on opponents' top receivers on a weekly basis.

But he also has been dealing with an ailing hip that has bothered him throughout the season. Cromartie has refused to use it as an excuse for a drop-off at times in his play, but acknowledged that it's an issue he'll deal with in the offseason.

Cromartie will see hip specialists to determine the cause of the problems and whether he'll need surgery. He thinks the issues are related to the broken right hip he suffered -- and played through -- during the 2008 season while with the Chargers.

"Hopefully, there's nothing too serious," Cromartie said. "Hopefully, I don't need to have surgery. If I do, hopefully it's just a cleanup job, easy to come back from."

Defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman doesn't think there's been much difference in his performance from last season, when Cromartie was a Pro Bowl selection.

Cromartie is hoping to end this season on a good note, even with coach Rex Ryan's future uncertain. A win over the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday would end their AFC East rival's postseason hopes. It also would help exact a bit of revenge on a team that thoroughly outplayed them 23-3 four weeks ago.

"This is our last game of the year," he said. "We want to make sure it's their last game, too."

The Jets (7-8) have a chance to finish .500 after outside expectations were a lot lower, and the play of quarterback Geno Smith and the rest of the offense have improved in the three games since the teams' last meeting.

"I felt like we were the better team then," Cromartie said. "Do I feel like we're a better team now? Yeah. We're running the ball better and we're playing the pass a whole lot better. I think the biggest thing for us is to put it all together and win a game on the road.""He looks the same when he's out there on Sunday to me," Thurman said.

[Badger]

What would be a realistic restructure? Extend him through 2016 and drop his average cap hit by a few million? I'm really not sure what he's worth anymore, especially if his play this season was due to his hip injury - that's something that he could bounce back from next year, or it could just continue to deteriorate.

[Tommy]

$15 million against the cap next season? Isn't Revis like $16 million against the Bucs cap?

[Badger]

$15 million against the cap next season? Isn't Revis like $16 million against the Bucs cap?

The difference is that Cromartie is/was never going to see that number play out - from the day it happened, it was probably going to be restructured (or he'll be cut).

Bucs don't have that with Revis, he's getting his $16M.

[Heismanberg]

He gon' get cut

[Badger]

He gon' get cut

First round CB, here we come!

[Heismanberg]

It'd be pretty interesting if we cut him and brought him back similar to what happened with Calvin Pace. 

[Badger]

It'd be pretty interesting if we cut him and brought him back similar to what happened with Calvin Pace. 

You think no one else would sign him? He's not quite as decrepit as Pace looked after last year.

[Heismanberg]

You think no one else would sign him? He's not quite as decrepit as Pace looked after last year.

I think he'll definitely get offers, but teams will go after other corners like Chris Harris, DRC, and Sam Shields first. 

If Cromartie doesn't get another nice chunk deal, he could return on a reasonable deal.  Not saying he'll make close to veteran minimum like Calvin Pace.  I just think it's possible that he comes back on a lesser deal. 

Instead of restructuring and pushing money further down the line, it makes more sense. 

[CatoTheElder]

Could be a cut and resign deal. I wouldn't mind seeing him back next season on a reasonable deal.

We've known about the hip injury since the beginning of the season and I don't think his precipitous drop is all a talent problem. I just don't want to see the Jets pay him like an elite talent.

[Jumbo]

Sign Chris Harris Jr. Dude's a beast.

SIGN EVERYONE

[Jumbo]

But if he comes here on a reasonable deal I would definitely want him.

[dcm1602]

Id really like to see Cro back getting 5-6 million a year on a 4~ year deal or so

Im willing to bet Cro plays for the same team as Rex next year.

Whether its the Jets, Lions, Dallas, or any other names that come up.

I really doubt Cro is a Jet if Rex is not

[SixFeetDeep]

You think no one else would sign him? He's not quite as decrepit as Pace looked after last year.

Cro ranked 106 out of 110 Cornerbacks this year by PFF. doubt Pace ever had a year that bad.

Prob Rex's fault doe

[dcm1602]

Cro ranked 106 out of 110 Cornerbacks this year by PFF. doubt Pace ever had a year that bad.

Prob Rex's fault doe

Well IF he has to have hip surgery, I would imagine that the injury has a significant role to play in it. Its certainly possible hes had some drop off as well, but you dont go from a top 10 corner, to almost the worst in the league overnight, especially when youre on the same team/system youve been in the last few years (though  it happened with Aso, but to be fair he went from man coverage on a team he spent his entire career on, to a zone coverage on one of the worst defenses in the league)

Wouldnt a hip injury effect a corner worse than probably any position in the league ? Especially a man coverage corner