Jets have acquired CB Cromartie from Chargers

It was just a few hours before the March 5 deadline for free agency and the New York Jets had a deal done with the San Diego Chargers to acquire cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who will team with Darrelle Revis in Jets’ secondary to be possibly the best cornerback tandem in the NFL.


The Jets have confirmed that the two teams agreed in principle about trading Cromartie on Thursday night but no detailed information has been available. Earlier that day, the Jets released another cornerback Lito Sheppard, seeming to prepare for the joining of Cromartie, who was an All-Pro in 2007 but did not have good time during the last two seasons with the Chargers.

Putting on Chargers jersey in 2006 as the 19th overall draft pick, Cromartie has had 15 interceptions in the past four seasons but did not satisfy the Chargers with expected performance late last season and in the playoffs.

Cromartie also has troubles off the field. He has dealt with at least five paternity suits and fathered seven children by several women. He also had a bar patron claim that he hit him in the head with a champagne bottle hours after the team’s victory at Denver last November. To make it worse, he was disciplined by Coach Norv Turner for breaking team rules regarding tweeting from the team premises.

He was no longer the talented cornerback who set the Chargers’ franchise record with an NFL-leading 10 interceptions and added two more picks in the playoffs in 2007 season, when the Chargers made it to the AFC championship game. He had just two interceptions in 2008 season and three in last season, making the Chargers increasingly disappointed with him and finally made the decision to trade him.