Antonio Cromartie waiting for more from Odell Beckham Jr.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Rex Ryan is gone, but at least one Jets player has added some chatter that should spice up the team's regular-season clash with the Giants in December.
Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartieraised the stakes on the New York rivalry when he explained why he thinks Giants star wideout Odell Beckham Jr. is overrated.
Appearing as a guest on ESPN's SportsNation, Cromartie was asked to list his top three wide receivers in the game. After he selectedDez Bryant, Antonio Brown and Calvin Johnson over Beckham, the Jets cornerback said the Giants receiver needs to prove he can produce over the long haul.
"Right now, he's a one-year wonder," Cromartie said Friday. "I'm just being honest. It's just one year. I need to see it on an every-game basis ... not him getting penalties or something like that or sucker-punching somebody. I think it's all about how you carry yourself throughout your whole, entire career."
Cromartie joined some Bills players in questioning Beckham's behavior during the Giants' 24-10 win in Buffalo on Sunday.
Bills linebacker Preston Brown accused the Giants' second-year receiver of throwing a punch and told The Buffalo News that Beckham will "get away with it" because he's "the 'golden boy' of the league." Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmoretold The Buffalo News that Beckham is "a prima donna" who "feels like he's on top of the world and nobody's supposed to do anything to him."
Beckham was fined $8,681 by the NFL for unnecessarily striking an opponent. Beckham plans to appeal the fine.
"I get punched every single game," Beckham said earlier this week. "I get hit in my face every single game. These are grown men out here. I don't think anybody should be talking about what happened after they lost a game."
Cromartie did credit Beckham with having an incredible start to his career. Through his first 16 games in the NFL, Beckham has 115 receptions for 1,612 yards and 14 touchdowns.
But Cromartie said Beckham, 22, still has to learn how to deal with all the defensive attention and continue to produce.
"Has he had productive years? In 16 games, yes," Cromartie said. "I give him the utmost [credit] for that. ... He has had the most production out of any receiver I have seen in 16 games since Randy Moss.
"But you have to do it week in and week out and depend on that person, no matter if you're getting double- or triple-teamed. Randy Moss didn't complain when he got double- and triple-teamed. And people went after him also."
Beckham has helped the Giants (2-2) win two straight entering Sunday night's game against San Francisco.Cromartie and the Jets are on their bye week at 3-1.
The cornerback's comments certainly will add intrigue to a Dec. 6 matchup that will see Beckham and the Giants' offense match up with a stout Jets defense that features Darrelle Revis and Cromartie.
Before facing Beckham for the first time in the preseason, Revis said the Giants wideout's famous one-handed reception last season was "probably by far the best catch I've probably ever seen."
