Jets Bonus Goes Straight To Cromartie's Baby Mamas

Antonio Cromartie has seven kids by six women in five states, and a partridge in a pear tree. The Jets fronted him some cash to clear up his paternity suits before he reports to camp. Ladies and gentlemen, the NFL!

Where did that $12 million rookie contract go? Possibly for fertility treatments, because there are an awful lot of little Cromarties running around. Those little Cromarties need to be fed and clothed, and that ain't cheap. With a court date coming up this month, and more pending, he needs some money, and he needs it fast.

Those are my kids, and they're my responsibility," Cromartie said during a conference call with beat reporters. "I made some wrong decisions in my first two years (in the NFL), and I have to take on that responsibility."

[snip]

"We realize that for Antonio to be available, someone of his talent, at his age (25), at his position, there were some circumstances that may have happened," said Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum, adding the organization did a thorough background investigation on Cromartie. "When we made the decision we felt the risk was reasonable given the price we had to pay. We're going to work with Antonio collaboratively to make sure we do everything organizationally to make sure he has the best opportunity to be successful."

Working with him collaboratively apparently means restructuring his $1.7 million contract to give him $500,000 now, as a bonus. Otherwise he wouldn't get paid until the start of the regular season, and who knows what paternity court he'd be in by then?

Too bad Travis Henry's probably retired. An uncapped year is the only time he could get enough to take care of his own baby issues.

NY Jets give CB Antonio Cromartie $500,000 in up-front money, report says [Star-Ledger]