Confidence is an important trait for any pro athlete. That’s why the offseason routinely consists of plenty of boasts regarding performances to come in the next NFL campaign.
For Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie, his confidence comes with a six pack of apathy.
Specifically, Cromartie thinks he can be the best cornerback in the NFL. But he doesn’t really want to be.
“Can I be? Yes. Do I care to be? No,” Cromartie recently told Brian Costello of the New York Post. “If we’re winning and I’m doing the things I need to do, then that’s what it’s really all about.”
It’s a bizarrely mature comment from Cromartie that could get lost in the headline. He’s basically saying that he’s more interested in team accomplishments than individual accolades.
That’s really the way it should be. While personal achievements can lead to big contracts and, eventually, a bronze bust in Canton, the focus never should be racking up stats or praise. It should be doing your job and hoping that everyone else does the same.