With seven kids in five states and allegations of overdue child support payments, new Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie is in need of some cash.
The Jets are giving it to him.
Jason La Canfora of NFL Network is reporting that the Jets are restructuring the remaining year on Cromartie’s deal, converting about $500,000 of Cromartie’s $1.7 million salary into a bonus that he’ll receive now.
Without the Jets agreeing to re-work the deal, Cromartie would have had to wait until the regular season starts before he starts collecting his salary. And since his salary is about $100,000 a week, he would have had to wait until Week Five before he’d have $500,000. Apparently Cromartie (who also owes a former agent at least $32,000) needs $500,000 badly enough that he can’t make it until October.
Cromartie is in the final year of his contract, and the Jets are not expected to give him a long-term extension.