Rex Ryan may be eyeing a reunion with a former Jet in Buffalo.
Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, released last week by the Jets, is expected to visit Ryan’s Bills soon, according to an NFL Network report. The report also states Ryan is “intrigued” by the idea of bringing Cromartie to Buffalo.
Cromartie played for Ryan with the Jets from 2010-13, and had some of his best years with him. The Jets released Cromartie after a one-season return last week in part to save $8 million in salary-cap space, but also because the corner’s play has slipped.
“Well, we looked at the tape,” Jets coach Todd Bowles said at the NFL Scouting Combine last week. “After we looked at the tape, he didn’t have the greatest year, but he played with a lot of injuries to his credit. Cromartie is one of the finest players I’ve coached. It was a hard decision, but we need to upgrade a little bit at that position, and that was why the decision was made.”
The Bills have two good starting cornerbacks in Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby, their first draft pick last year, so Cromartie might be looking at a different role than he is used to if he goes to Buffalo. It also is possible Ryan is looking for someone who knows his defense and could bridge the gap between he and the Bills defenders that developed last year when several were publicly critical of Ryan.