Cromartie happy playing with Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Remember what Antonio Cromartie thought about Tom Brady? Well, a lot of people in San Diego thought that way about Cromartie before he was traded to the Jets last spring. Even though he had a productive career with the Chargers, there were many who went on record as happy to see him go.

Cromartie also was happy to leave.

"It could have been anywhere," he said when asked if he needed a change of address. "Being here is a definite fresh start with the locker room and the chemistry that is in here. It's just fun and exciting to be here."

Cromartie has fit in nicely with the Jets' new culture of brash talk backed up by action. He's had a very good season at cornerback, playing opposite Darrelle Revis.

Although he wasn't in complete control of where he landed when the Chargers were looking to toss him out - there was word that the organization was unhappy with his effort in last year's playoff loss to the Jets - he hoped he'd wind up with the Jets.

"The style of defense they play" is what attracted him, he said. "There's a lot of matching up and playing man-to-man. I love that style of defense. It's fun and exciting to be out there on that island by yourself."

Cromartie might have felt as if he were on an island in the Chargers' locker room as tensions between him and teammates grew. Their comments after he departed were startling and direct. In an article in the Union-Tribune of San Diego this past summer, safety Eric Weddle called it "refreshing" to be without Cromartie. Cornerback Quentin Jammer, in the same article, said life was easier without him around. "We all know there were guys in the locker room who didn't like him," Jammer said. "He didn't like them. We don't have to deal with that now."

Fellow former Charger LaDainian Tomlinson said he was not surprised by the kick out the door.

"He understood the opportunity that he had [here]," Tomlinson said. "I know Cromartie the man, so whenever he's motivated and he believes in something, you're going to get the best out of him."

The Jets have. And they didn't worry about the baggage he brought with him from San Diego.

"You come in here, you have a clean slate," said Nick Mangold, whose locker is next to Cromartie's. "You don't hold anything against anybody. You don't know what situation people are coming from. So you give them a fresh sheet of paper to write their story on, and he's been fantastic for us."

Cromartie clearly loves it here, playing for Rex Ryan and the Jets. And yes, he heard the griping from two Giants safeties this week, with Antrel Rolle complaining about not having fun under Tom Coughlin and Kenny Phillips saying he'd like to play for a coach like Ryan (before saying that he wouldn't).

Cromartie wasn't shocked. "This,'' he said, "is the most fun [I've] had in my five-year career."