Chaz Schilens Responds to Antonio Cromartie’s Claim of Being the Jets’ Second Best Receiver

The New York Jets, if nothing else, are a circus. ESPN has sent an entire production crew and broadcast team to watch their training camp. Tim Tebow, who is the backup QB, gets more attention than just about every player in the league. Rex Ryan is Rex Ryan. And then there's cornerback (and possible sometime WR this season) Antonio Cromartie.

The Jets probably didn't need any internal distractions with all the external ones they have to deal with, but Cromartie has given them one. I linked to this story yesterday, and I knew it wasn't over. The Jets DB (and all-league procreator) has NEVER caught an NFL pass. That little stat didn't stop Antonio from telling a reporter that he was the second best wide receiver the Jets have right now, outside of Santonio Holmes.

I haven't really played it in the past four or five years, but I can put myself as the second just with raw ability and talent going out there, I think, me separating and being a more physical guy out there on the outside.

Way to go, Cro. Of course the next step was for someone to ask an actual WR how that felt when they heard it.

Chaz Schilens, who is new to the Jets after playing for the Raiders last year, was asked by an AP reporter if he had heard about Cromartie's claim.

Yeah, and it's not something I would say. Let him think what he wants.

Then the next logical step was to ask Coach Ryan what the team was doing to deal with any possible strife that might have been caused by Cromartie basically throwing an entire receiving corps under the bus. At his news conference earlier today, Ryan had this to say:

I'm aware of what was said. I'm on top of it. I'm aware of it. It won't be a problem. We're not playing it out through the media. I'm aware of it. I'll handle it.

Good luck with that. I'm not sure there are enough tents to cover that five ring circus they have going on in New York these days.