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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Antonio Cromartie puts Darrelle Revis ahead of Richard Sherman

Darrelle Revis versus Richard Sherman?

That’s not even a fair fight, Antonio Cromartie said.

Cromartie, who returned to the New York Jets this offseason along with Revis, said there shouldn’t be any debate over who’s the No. 1 cornerback in the NFL – and it’s not Sherman.

While the Seattle Seahawks cornerback often boasts about being the best at his position, Cromartie said Revis is unequivocally better.

“Go play in a defense where you don’t have two All-Pro safeties,” Cromartie said Tuesday on SiriusXM NFL Radio, in reference to Sherman playing with Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. “That’s what I would tell him.

“I would tell him, go follow the No. 1 receiver. Follow him around for a whole entire game and see what you can do. Darrelle Revis has done that his whole career. I’ve done that. (Cardinals cornerback) Patrick Peterson has done it. (Browns cornerback) Joe Haden has done it.

“He’s the only defensive back that hasn’t,” Cromartie said of Sherman, a three-time All-Pro selection and one-time Super Bowl champion. “If you want to label yourself as the No. 1 corner or the best corner in the NFL, follow the best guy on every single team.

“His whole thing about, ‘Well, we don’t have to do that, I’ve got my trust in the other corner on the other side.’ That’s not the point. If you’re going to consider yourself the best, the best do what the best do. And they follow around the best.”

Revis, 29, signed a five-year, $70-million contract to return to the Jets in March after helping the New England Patriots defeat the Seahawks in the Super Bowl.