The fans aren’t the only ones frustrated about the NFL’s impending labor dispute.
Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie blasted both sides yesterday while cleaning out his locker following Sunday’s 24-19 loss to the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship Game.
“To tell you the truth, they need to get their damn minds together . . . and just get this s- -t done, and stop bitching about money,” Cromartie said. “Money, money ain’t nothing . . . money can be something that can be here and gone.
“As us players, we just want to go out and just play football. That’s something that we’ve been doing and we love and we enjoy. This is our livelihood.”
VOTE: JETS FREE AGENTS; SIGN, DON’T SIGN
Cromartie, who is a free agent, said he hasn’t heard anything from either the owners or the players’ union about what to expect in the weeks and months ahead, with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, which is set to expire March 4. After that, the owners have the option to lock the players out, and are expected to unless the two sides reach an agreement.
“I mean, that’s how I feel,” Cromartie said. “Honestly, I don’t give a damn if they get mad at me or not, but it’s getting to a point where it’s getting ridiculous when everything is always dealing with money. You’re basically dealing with people’s livelihoods, that this is what we do for our careers, and you’re dealing with hundreds of thousands of other people that’s in this workplace, also, from the venues to everyone else.
“So, to me, you need to stop bitching about it, and if you wanna say you’re gonna get into a room and meet and greet, and say you’re gonna do what you need to do, then do it, don’t just talk about it.
“I mean, you’ve got our head union reps acting like an a- -hole, and they got their guys acting like a- -holes. They just need to get their s- -t together and get it done.”
Cromartie, who was traded by the Chargers to the Jets last March for a conditional third-round pick in this year’s draft, had three interceptions and 42 tackles this season. He said he hopes to be back playing alongside superstar corner Darrelle Revis in the Jets’ secondary next season.
“I love playing for the guys in this locker room, I love playing for this coaching staff, I love playing for this whole organization,” Cromartie said. “They let you be a man here. It’s definitely exciting, and there’s something special here.
“Obviously we’ve been in the AFC Championship two times in back-to-back years, so the only thing you can do from there is build on it and try to succeed and push on to the next level.”