Cromartie ‘thrilled’ to join Cards
When free agency started 10 days ago, cornerback Antonio Cromartie’s phone didn’t ring much. And when you’re expecting calls, silence is perplexing.
Maybe it was Cromartie’s age; he turns 30 next month. Or his health; he played through a hip injury much of last season. Cromartie insists he doesn’t care now.
On Thursday, he signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals and sounded as if he could not have been happier about it.
“I’m so happy that the Arizona Cardinals organization took interest in me, made me feel at home,” he said. “Made me feel like I was wanted. I’m very thrilled and happy to be where I’m sitting at right now.”
Cromartie, an eight-year veteran, didn’t receive the riches that elite free agent corners expect in free agency.
He will make at least $3.25 million in 2014 and can earn another $500,000 if he plays in every game. That’s under the market value for a cornerback who has made three Pro Bowls, including in each of the past two years with the Jets.
The Jets cut Cromartie earlier this month to save $9.5 million of cap space.
The Cardinals apparently were the only team that brought Cromartie in for a visit. He reportedly was interested in re-signing with the Jets, too, but the interest wasn’t reciprocated.
Cromartie visited the Cardinals last week, then left town. The Cardinals brought another cornerback, Mike Jenkins, in for a visit this week, something that probably helped prompt Cromartie to sign.
“My selling point to him and his agent (Ben Dogra) were the fact that if you’re going to some degree, resurrect your career, why not do it at a place where you feel like you have a top-five defense, you have a team that’s going to feature you on a island?” General Manager Steve Keim said. “So your ability to create stats … is beneficial to you. I just felt like it was a great fit.”
It also helped that Cardinals secondary coach Kevin Ross coached Cromartie with the Chargers. The Cardinals felt they had a good read on Cromartie’s personality, and Ross’ presence was reassuring to Cromartie. If Cromartie has recovered fully from a hip ailment, his addition gives the Cardinals a formidable secondary. He is expected to start opposite Pat- rick Peterson, a Pro Bowl cornerback the past two years. Jerraud Powers and Tyrann Mathieu could play the nickel cornerback position.
The Cardinals’ medical staff cleared Cromartie, who said he has been working out with no problems.
“On my visit, it was like I’ve been here for two or three years already,” Cromartie said. “It’s motivation to be part of a team that’s right where it needs to be, a team that’s committed to winning and also a team that’s right on the edge of being a Super Bowl champion team.
“I’m a veteran guy going into my ninth year, and that’s what you look for.”
With Cromartie (6-feet-2, 210 pounds) and Peterson (6-1, 219), the Cardinals have two strong, physical cornerbacks who can play the style of defense coordinator Todd Bowles prefers.
“I just know this: The type of defense that we want to play, which is a pressure defense, corners on an island … he is a really good fit for us,” Keim said.
Peterson apparently was excited about the news. Soon after the Cromartie deal was announced, Peterson tweeted: “It's about to be trouble, trouble, trouble.”
NFL notes
Pittsburgh will not be docked a pick in this year’s draft for coach Mike Tomlin’s foray onto the field against Baltimore last November, the team said. Tomlin was fined $100,000 for stepping onto the field during a kickoff return by Baltimore’s Jacoby Jones during a loss to the Ravens on Thanksgiving. ... Dallas signed defensive tackle Henry Melton to an incentive-laden one-year contract with a $1.25 million base salary and could be worth up to $5 million. ... Fullback Bruce Miller signed a three-year contract extension with San Francisco. ... Atlanta agreed to terms with return specialist Devin Hester. ... Carolina signed free-agent receiver Jerricho Cotchery to a two-year contract. ... Houston signed veteran free-agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, a former Gilbert Highland High star.