National Football League

Is Peterson recruiting Cromartie for Cardinals?

Published Mar. 16, 2014 4:24 p.m. ET

foxsports

Patrick Peterson's on-field value to the Cardinals is above question at this stage of his career. He has emerged as one of the NFL's top cornerbacks and, despite a dry spell last season, is still regarded as a deadly return man.

On Saturday evening, Peterson may have revealed another talent -- that of recruiter. Peterson and Pro Bowl free-agent cornerback Antonio Cromartie had this interesting exchange on Twitter.

@CRO31 let's make this thing happen.
— Patrick Peterson (@RealPeterson21) March 16, 2014

Both players have since deleted their tweets. Perhaps Cromartie got word from his agent that this could potentially weaken his negotiating stance. Perhaps Peterson got word from the Cardinals that he has no place negotiating deals. Regardless, it's hard not to wonder if the Cards are close to adding Cromartie after this exchange -- maybe even on a one-year deal if he can't find the more lucrative contract he is seeking elsewhere, which has been a problem for veterans on the free-agent market the past two years.