New York Jets cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie and Dee Milliner are teammates on the field, willing to do what it takes to aid one another in their joint quest to return a recently downtrodden Jets franchise and Gang Green defense to relevancy.
As we all know though, when it comes to off-field interviews, there are no teammates and there are certainly no friendships - or something.
Cromartie, behind the mic Tuesday after jokingly grabbing it from an SNY staffer, reportedly threw a couple of questions Milliner's way. Cromartie lobbed a softball at Milliner, who was speaking to the media for the first time since the end of last year, to kick the interview off - "Question here: How do you feel?"
"I feel great. I've been doing my rehab like I was supposed to, my treatment. I've been moving around, being able to cut, do some movements," Milliner said, via Kristian Dyer of Metro.com. "So I feel great."
The next question hit a little harder.
"Do you feel confident going into the season? There's a lot of talk saying you're on the roster bubble, [that] you're here to make the team," said Cromartie. "Do you feel and have the confidence that you and in your ability that you can do the things you're supposed to do?"
According to Dyer, Milliner, who had been smiling prior to the question, no longer seemed so jovial. He did his best to answer though.
"Oh most definitely. When I come out there I do what I'm supposed to do. Do my work, get better each day," Milliner said. "Compete like I'm supposed to, like nothing ever happened. Just be out there."
Milliner has struggled through two mostly ineffective and injury-riddled seasons. He was the guy who dubbed himself the "best corner in the league" last July, only to follow that declaration with a year wherein he appeared in just three games and managed all of six tackles and two passes defensed.
His future in New York was already cloudy, even before new Jets head coach Todd Bowles and GM Mike Maccagnan went on an offseason cornerback spending spree, bringing in All Pro Darrelle Revis, Cromartie and Buster Skrine.
Milliner has a tough summer ahead of him and Cromartie's question probably didn't help. To Milliner's credit though, he stood strong and even managed a joke of his own when asked by a reporter after Cromartie had departed whether he was looking to take his teammates job.
"Which one?" Milliner said. "Announcer or corner?"
