Report: Jets’ Cromartie pays off overdue child support

12:18 PM, March 17, 2010 ι POST STAFF REPORT

The Jets up-front money is paying off for Antonio Cromartie.

Gang Green’s new CB paid off his past-due child-support obligations and will not have to go to court in San Diego to answer questions about his financial situation, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Cromartie, who has seven children by six women, had owed money to one of the mothers, but squared up the amount owed. Cromartie’s lawyer, Steven Bishop, said the total was between $25,000 and $50,000.

The Jets acquired Cromartie from the Chargers on March 4 for a third-round draft pick. And they immediately did their new player a favor by advancing him $500,000 of the $1.7 million they will pay him this season to help him pay his debt. Players don’t usually start getting paid until the first week of the season.

"We're looking forward to him having a fresh start here with us and we're going to work with Antonio collaboratively to make sure we can do everything we can organizationally to give him the best chance to be successful," Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum said. "We're looking forward to working together in that partnership."