Antonio Cromartie's ballyhooed return to the New York Jets lasted only one season, as the 31-year-old cornerback was released Monday by the team.
The move hardly was a surprise, as Cromartie, coming off a mediocre season, was due to make $8 million in base salary in the second year of a four-year, $32 million contract. His 2016 salary wasn't guaranteed, allowing the Jets to save the full $8 million on their salary cap.
"I would like to think the Jets organization for bringing me back this past season," Cromartie wrote on Instagram. "I had a lot of fun and I know my first (half) of the season didn't go well and I thank you guys for pushing and believing in me to keep me on the field so I could finish strong.