New York Jets

Antonio Cromartie on playing elsewhere in 2016: 'It could happen'

Published Nov. 22, 2015 1:27 p.m. ET

foxsports

The New York Jets went out and spent $150 million to completely revamp their secondary. Darrelle Revis headlined the group, and coming off of a great season in Arizona, the Jets also brought in veteran cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

Unfortunately, he hasn't exactly followed up his performance from a year ago with the Cardinals. He's struggled in coverage, getting burned for touchdowns several times, most notably against the Jaguars in London.

He's not one to deny his poor play, either. He admits to having his fair share of struggles with the Jets this season, but the criticism hasn't gotten to him -- he thrives on it.

“I love when people write me off,” Cromartie told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. “People can write me off. As long as my coaching staff and the guys in the locker room right now don’t write me off, I’m good to go.”

Cromartie's $8 million average base salary over the next four seasons isn't cheap by any means, and the Jets would certainly like him to play better. But if the Jets want to, they could cut him before the 2016 season and not have to absorb any dead money against the cap.

With that said, Cromartie knows his performance has to improve to close out the season if he hopes to remain with the Jets in 2016.

“It could happen,” Cromartie said of playing elsewhere next season. “I’m not worried about it. Everything is destined. If I’m needed here, I’m needed here. If I’m not, I’m not. I’m not focused on that. The only thing I can control is finishing this year on a high note. That’s it. I can’t put myself in a position where I’m thinking, ‘What’s going to happen after this season?’ My goal is to try to help bring a Super Bowl here.”

Cromartie and the Jets are obviously focused on this season and improving their 5-4 record to make the playoffs. They'll need better play from everyone in the secondary at this point, with poor play happening all around.