Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
Antonio Cromartie’s return to the Jets this summer came as a result of their failure to convince Nnamdi Asomugha to sign with them as a free agent.
That isn’t stopping Cromartie from saying that he’s a better cornerback in some respects than the man who wound up with the Eagles. He told Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com just where he sees himself as being a superior player.
“My style of play and his style of play are totally different,†Cromartie said. “I feel I’m more of a playmaker than he is.â€
Cromartie did make some big plays for the Jets on Sunday against the Jaguars. He picked off two passes and returned one to the one-yard line to set up a Jets touchdown. He can also make plays as a kickoff returner and the Jets have been giving him on snaps on offense, although that has only resulted in one rush for one yard and some extra tape for opposing defensive coordinators to watch.
There’s a reason why Cromartie gets to make so many plays, of course. Teams don’t much like throwing to the guy covered by Darrelle Revis, so Cromartie gets tested more often as a result. Asomugha has also been a corner left alone by opposing quarterbacks over the years, something that doesn’t give him nearly as many chances to make plays as Cromartie has with the Jets or when he was a member of the Chargers.
Cromartie left something out of his playmaking comparison with Asomugha as well. He left out the part where other teams make a lot more plays against him than they make against Asomugha. The Cowboys beat him twice for touchdowns in the opening game of the season, several other teams did the same thing during his first season with the Jets in 2010 and he draws a fair number of flags in the passing game as well.
The balance between the plays he makes and the plays he gives up still works out as a net positive for Cromartie, but there’s little doubt that you’d rather have a fewer big plays made if it means fewer big plays against you when all is said and done.
WRITTEN BY NBC Sports & FULL STORY HERE
