CB Antonio Cromartie Released by Jets

Antonio Cromartie is a former New York Jet again.

"No mo Cro" #NYJets #NFLhttps://t.co/nCu0NDZ1Zn

— Zig Fracassi (@ZigFracassi) February 22, 2016

His return to New York at the beginning of the 2015 season completed a reunion with his former team and former defensive backfield mate, Derrelle Revis. Now age 32 with 11 years of playing behind him, he has shown the inevitable signs of age and slippage.  Pro Football Focus graded him as the 86th CB in the league. To compare, it is four slots behind Ravens CB Kyle Arrington.

source: PFF.  Note: The first number is the ranking, the second is the grade, the red color means below abverage.

The move was also a financial one by the Jets, who reportedly paid Cromartie $7 million for 2015, and releasing him saves them $8 million, with no dead money lingering on their ledger, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini and NFL.com's Dan Hanzus.

Cormartie posted a heartfelt goodbye on Instagram to acknowledge the change.

First I would like to give thanks to my Lord and Savior because everything that I've been blessed with is because of you. Thank you again. Now I would like to thank the Jets Organization for bringing me back this past season. I had a lot of fun and I know my first half of the season didn't go well and I thank you guys for pushing and believing in me while keeping me on the field so I could finish strong. Today is a sad day for me not because of my release but the guys I became really close to in our DB room. @busterskrine @revisislandtwo4 @instant9 @mgilchr @therealmarcwill @dmilli27 @wavyy_25 @dbailey37 @dex_25 man y'all niggas were my brothers and I would do anything for y'all man. God bless y'all boys in the future and let God lead the way for you. To the Jets Nation, the most important people that make Sunday's so fun...thank you for welcoming me back. You guys are the best fans ever and thank you for sticking next to me through my tough times last season, you rock. Keep the excitement in the stands, because Coach Bowles will have the guys right this upcoming season. I Vow to be the person and player my Heavenly Father has asked me to be. God Bless You. Sorry @busterskrine I had to put this up lol.

A video posted by Antonio Cromartie (@antoniocromartie31) on Feb 22, 2016 at 10:45am PST