The Jets are putting the band back together.
The team agreed to terms with free-agent cornerback Antonio Cromartie on Thursday, according to league sources, reuniting him with Darrelle Revis in a throwback Jets secondary. The deal is for four years and $32 million, according to a source. The amount of guaranteed money and structure of the deal were not immediately known.
Cromartie, who turns 31 next month, spent three seasons with the Jets before the team released him last year. He spent one season with the Cardinals, where he played for new Jets coach Todd Bowles, who was the Cardinals defensive coordinator.
Now, Cromartie reunites with Bowles and Revis, who the Jets signed this week. New Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan has attacked the cornerback position, the biggest hole on the team last year, in free agency this week. The Jets also signed Buster Skrine, giving them a lot of bodies and a lot of money in the cornerback room.
In all, the Jets have given out $127 million to cornerbacks this week. Revis received a five-year, $70 million deal. Maccagnan gave Skrine a four-year, $25 million contract.
Cromartie had three interceptions last year in Arizona. The four-time Pro Bowler has 31 picks in his career.
The biggest question now is: What becomes of Dee Milliner, who was taken with the ninth overall pick by the Jets two years ago? Milliner is recovering from a torn Achilles’ tendon and the team is unsure when he will be ready to play. When he does return, he may find it tough to find a place on the field.
Bowles likes to use cornerbacks, so Milliner could still find playing time. The Cardinals played the most dime defense (six DBs) of any team in the NFL, according to ESPN. The Jets also have Dexter McDougle, who they drafted in the third round last year. McDougle missed his rookie season with a torn ACL.
Maccagnan and Bowles were open about their desire to fix the cornerback position, which was a disaster last season. The Jets gave up 31 passing touchdowns, third most in the NFL in 2014.
Cromartie returns to Gang Green after a one-year hiatus in Arizona. Former GM John Idzik cut Cromartie last March for salary-cap reasons, which was not a surprise. The shocking part was Idzik not making an effort to bring Cromartie back at a cheaper price. He ultimately signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with Arizona.
Now, he’s back.
Cromartie and Revis formed one of the most formidable cornerback tandems in football in 2010 and 2011 after the Jets acquired Cromartie in a trade from San Diego. When Revis went down with an ACL injury in 2012, Cromartie filled the void and had one of his best seasons, making the Pro Bowl.
The Jets traded Revis in 2013, leaving Cromartie as the top cornerback on the team. In that role, he struggled. Some of the slip in his play must be attributed to a hip injury. He bounced back last season with the Cardinals and finished as the 45th ranked cornerback on the website Pro Football Focus. He made his third straight Pro Bowl.
Cromartie was vocal publicly about his desire to return to the Jets. He loved playing for Bowles and still has a house in New Jersey. When Revis arrived Wednesday, he said he would recruit Cromartie, hoping to put “Batman and Robin” back together, as they called themselves.
That scenario became a reality Thursday and what is old is new again in the Jets’ secondary.