NFL

Inconsistent Cromartie flops for Jets

OAKLAND, Calif. — Will the real Antonio Cromartie please stand up?

Three games into the season, the Jets cornerback has been defined by inconsistent play.

Cromartie had a poor game in a Week 1 win over the Cowboys by giving up two touchdown passes, a great game last week with two interceptions in a win over the Jaguars and a horrendous game in yesterday’s 34-24 loss to the Raiders at O.co Coliseum.

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To make a bad day even worse, Cromartie left the game in the fourth quarter with what the Jets termed a rib injury. Cromartie dressed gingerly in front of his locker after the game, in obvious pain, and did not speak to reporters. He was taken to Eden Medical Center for testing and returned to New York with the team. Multiple reports said the cornerback has bruised lungs, though that was not confirmed by the Jets.

Cromartie’s miserable day was highlighted by a critical fumble on a kickoff return with 40 seconds to play in the third quarter. Cromartie literally booted the ball at the Jets’ goal line and tried to fall on it, but the ball squirted out and was recovered by the Raiders on the Jets’ 13-yard line. The Raiders scored two plays later to take a 31-17 lead.

“He did [have a tough day],” coach Rex Ryan said. “Sometimes those things happen.”

In addition to the fumbling gaffe, Cromartie was flagged four times (two for defensive holding and two for defensive pass interference), accounting for more than half the Jets’ seven penalties.

“I think some of those calls could have gone both ways,” cornerback Darrelle Revis said.

Cromartie also was the last tackler with a shot at bringing down running back Darren McFadden on a second quarter, 70-yard touchdown run, but couldn’t shed the downfield block by receiver Chaz Schilens.

“Through the penalties and stuff, I was right there by his side,” Revis said. “That’s all you have to do. You have to lift your teammate up. We are all in it together — I think that is the biggest thing.”

The breakdowns by Cromartie against the Raiders come after he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week last week.

“He did have an unbelievable week last week,” Revis said, “but this week is a different story.”