We noted yesterday that NFL Network was reporting that the Jets were likely to let free agent cornerback Antonio Cromartie walk this offseason. Shortly after posting, we updated with a note from Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, disputing NFL Network’s story.
Now the New York Post has a look at the Jets’ priorities in free agency, saying the NFL Network report from yesterday is not entirely true, and reiterating that wide receiver Santonio Holmes is the team’s top priority to re-sign, but that they’d also like to re-sign receivers Braylon Edwards and Brad Smith as well as Cromartie.
It’s probably not realistic to think that the Jets can keep all of those players, although if a long lockout results in a short free agency period, there might not be much time for those players to shop themselves elsewhere, and sticking with the Jets may be their best bet.
So Cromartie could end up playing for the Jets in 2011. Even though that’s probably not Cromartie’s first choice, and even though he’s not the Jets’ first priority.