Are the New York Jets bickering already? - ESPN (blog)

The New York Jets haven't played a preseason game and barely had a week of training camp. Yet, there are already hints of dissention in their combustible locker room.

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie says he's the second-best receiver on the Jets. Understandably, some New York receivers weren't happy about it.

Cromartie

"I think it's a slight, I'm not going to lie," Jets receiver Chaz Schilens told New York reporters. “I just wouldn't say it, it's not something I would say, but I'm not him I guess."

Are the Jets bickering already? Aug. 1 is considered early -- even for this team.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan quickly went on the defensive Wednesday. He learned last year how fragile the Jets' locker room is.

"I'm aware of what was said, OK?" Ryan said. "I'm on top of it. I'm telling you that right now. I'm on top of it, and it will not be a problem. And that's all that I'm going to say about the whole thing."

This reeks of 2011. There was bickering last year between the Jets' offense, which was ranked 25th, and New York’s defense, which was ranked fifth. The feeling was New York would've been a playoff team if the offense had its act together. It's a fair point.

However, this summer was supposed to be the start of a clean slate in New York. The Jets were in the process of repairing what went wrong inside their locker room. A cornerback saying he can do a receivers' job better than those who get paid millions to do it wasn't in the plans. It's a slap in the face both to Cromartie's teammates and the receiver position.

This is the first of many chemistry tests for the Jets. Ryan was na�ve to issues with his players last year. But these are things he must nip in the bud early before they get bigger.