Bart Scott expected more from Antonio Cromartie
After the New York Jets‘ loss in the 2009 AFC Championship Game to the Colts, head coach Rex Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum signed cornerback Antonio Cromartie to play opposite breakout superstar Darrelle Revis.
The 2010 Jets went on to win 11 games and finished the season one game shy of a Super Bowl appearance for the second straight season. A lot of that success can be attributed to the tandem of Revis and Cromartie, who shut down opposing wide receivers all season.
Bart Scott, who played linebacker in New York from 2009-12 and is now a radio host for ESPN, had something to say about his former teammate Cromartie on Thursday’s edition of “Bart & Hahn.”
“He should’ve been better than Revis, but it wasn’t even close,” said Scott.
“He was probably the most gifted athlete that I’ve ever been around,” Scott said of Cromartie. “But he was arrogant, he thought he knew it all.”
Scott elaborated, “Revis was far more superior of a player than Cromartie, because of the mentality, the work ethic, the humility, and the attitude to want to be great every day, every snap of practice,” said Scott.
Revis is widely considered one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history, while the Robin to his Batman, Cromartie, will only be remembered as a very good cornerback in comparison.
In 11 seasons, Revis compiled seven Pro Bowl appearances and four All-Pro appearances as well as nearly winning the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year award. In Cromartie’s 11-season career, he put together four Pro Bowl appearances and one All-Pro appearance.
Both had exceptional careers, one clearly better than the other, but the former teammate of both didn’t mince words when speaking on Cromartie’s potential.
While talking about NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo’s drive to be great and his toughness as opposed to Anthony Davis’ natural ability that allows him to be great, Scott sprung at the opportunity to use Revis and Cromartie as the NFL comparison.
“Revis would be Giannis and Cromartie would be Anthony Davis,” said Scott.
