Jan 21, 2015; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets new general manager Mike Maccagnan (left), owner Woody Johnson (center), and new head coach Todd Bowles (right) pose for a photo during a press conference at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Photo Credit: William Perlman/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com via USA TODAY Sports
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets still had another day left in this week’s minicamp when head coach Todd Bowles offered to his players some simple advice heading into the six-week vacation before training camp.
“They know they have conditioning tests when they come back, so it would be wise of them to come back in shape,” Bowles said.
On Thursday, Bowles inferred another bit of advice: Lay off the social media smack talk.
Never-shy cornerback Antonio Cromartie helped create a Twitter buzz on Wednesday when he volleyed back and forth with former teammate Kellen Winslow Jr. after Winslow criticized Cromartie for his behavior during cornerback Dee Milliner’s session with reporters on Tuesday.
Cromartie joined the scrum, grabbed a microphone and asked Milliner, with his tongue planted in cheek, what it felt like to be on the roster bubble after his first two up-and-down NFL seasons.
Winslow, who played with Cromartie and the Jets in 2013, tweeted on Wednesday that “Cromartie is one of the biggest posers I have ever seen and played against” and that he is “not even close to the best.”
Later Wednesday, Cromartie responded with “you wish you were as good as your dad/. Have you been to TARGET lately?”
That was a reference to Winslow’s arrest outside a New Jersey Target in 2013, when the tight end was busted for possession of synthetic marijuana. A woman also alleged that Winslow was committing a lewd act in the car, though no charges were filed.
Winslow came back with a pretty lethal punch of his own Thursday when he tweeted “U wish you were a Dad. Learn your kids names.” That was a reference to Cromartie, the father of 10, having trouble naming all his children during an episode of Hard Knocks in 2010.
Such a fracas might have been outright encouraged by former Jets head coach Rex Ryan, but Bowles — as understated as Ryan is exuberant — made it clear he prefers the players to keep the talking to a minimum, especially as the team tries to rebound from last season’s 4-12 finish.
“You just have to be smart about things you say and things you do because everybody is going to see it,” Bowles said. “You just have to be more aware of your surroundings right there. Obviously, we don’t want a whole team that gossips and hasn’t done anything.
“And I’d rather for us to just work on getting ourselves better as a team, as opposed to just talking on social media. But it’s a player’s prerogative. What they have to understand (is) if the coach isn’t happy doing certain things, they are going to have to cut it short.”
That’s what Cromartie did Thursday, when he said he’d only answer football-related questions during the time he was mandated to be available to reporters.
“I’m just here so I don’t get fined,” Cromartie said.
–Bowles offered some clarity Thursday regarding the Jets’ cluttered depth chart at running back but also hinted there will be plenty of competition come training camp.
Bowles said Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell, the only two backs on the roster who saw regular-season action with the Jets last year, man the top two spots in the pecking order.
Daryl Richardson, who spent last season on the practice squad, is third. Zac Stacy, whom the Jets acquired from the St. Louis Rams during the draft, is fourth as he figures out the playbook. And free-agent signee Stevan Ridley, who is recovering from knee surgery, is fifth because he hasn’t played yet.
While Ivory has the leg up on first-team duties, Bowles said he wasn’t sure know who the third-down back would be yet.
“I don’t know who can block and who can’t block right now,” Bowles said. “That remains to be seen. So right now, all three guys that are practicing are very similar and then Stacy will make the fourth guy practicing. We’ll see when Ridley comes back and that will be something that will be ironed out in camp.”
