The Jets’ search for a safety is getting so bleak, cornerback Antonio Cromartie hinted on Twitter last night he might be moving there.
Cromartie’s tweet about moving to free safety — he didn’t appear to be joking — came after Reggie Nelson spurned the Jets late yesterday to re-sign with the Bengals despite a two-day hard sell and little free-agent interest in the former first-round pick from other teams.
Nelson’s decision came the same day oft-injured former Redskins safety LaRon Landry was visiting the Jets, who face much stronger competition for Landry than they did with Nelson. Landry has visited the Patriots and reportedly has discussed visiting the Lions and Bears.
With Nelson no longer an option and Landry not yet in the fold, the Jets were reduced in a weak year for free-agent safeties to bringing in Packers defensive back Jarrett Bush for a weekend visit and hoping former Redskins DB O.J. Atogwe will soon do the same.
Bush appeared in 12 games last season, starting one, for what statistically was the NFL’s worst defense.
The Jets are in dire shape at safety, which was one of their biggest holes last season and is even thinner after Brodney Pool signed with the Cowboys late last week.
The Jets have scheduled a visit with wide receiver Donnie Avery, a former first-round pick of the Titans who has struggled to get back on the field after a 2010 knee injury.
It is the first free-agent visit by the four-year pro. The Jets signed former Raiders wideout Chaz Schilens on Friday.
Seahawks sign Flynn
The Seahawks reached agreement yesterday with Matt Flynn on a three-year deal, bringing one of the most wanted — yet unproven — free agents to the Pacific Northwest to try and solidify the Seahawks’ quarterback position.
After being spurned by Peyton Manning, the Dolphins had a brief, unproductive courtship with Flynn, then turned their attention to quarterback Alex Smith, the 49ers free agent.
Smith left the Miami complex after a 5 1/2-hour meeting yesterday.