Jets fans don’t sound like the only ones tired of cornerback Antonio Cromartie’s inconsistent ways.

Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine was brutally honest yesterday when asked what leads to the drastic peaks and valleys in Cromartie’s play.

“I’m not sure,” Pettine said. “That’s something we’ve had many discussions about behind closed doors. . . . I’m not sure. It could be a horoscope thing. I’m at a loss. I think we’re all searching for that answer.”

Cromartie has been magnificent at times this year (see Jacksonville), atrocious (see Oakland) and in between (see Dallas). Last week, Brandon Marshall got behind him for a big gain on a play Pettine said featured several breakdowns but the most glaring was Cromartie losing track of Marshall.

FOLLOW BRIAN ON TWITTER

UPDATES FROM OUR JETS BLOG

Pettine admitted it is frustrating to not know what you’re getting each week from such a talented player. Pettine, who watches games from the press box, said he checks with the sideline early in games to get a read on Cromartie.

“That’s something I’ll usually ask [defensive backs coach] Dennis Thurman on the headset,” he said. “I’ll say, ‘which Cro do we got today? Do we got the good Cro or do we got the bad Cro?'”

*****A day after Rex Ryan took an unintentional jab at Chargers coach Norv Turner, he said he wished it never happened.

“I’m guilty, absolutely,” Ryan said. “It was unintentional. I think we’re even because he did get me with a good shot, there’s no question.”

Ryan said Wednesday that had the Chargers hired him in 2007 when he interviewed they would have won several Super Bowls by now. He later phoned Turner to apologize. Turner returned fire with a barb of his own referencing Ryan’s failed Super Bowl guarantees with the Jets.

“That was a good one, no doubt,” Ryan said.

*****Chargers kicker Nick Novak spent training camp with the Jets but lost the kicking competition to Nick Folk. He signed with the Chargers after Nate Kaeding was injured in Week 1. He has been perfect for San Diego, making all 11 of his field-goal attempts.

“He had a good camp here,” Jets special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff said. “When we first started I felt he was a little bit ahead of (Folk). But then (Folk) came in and outperformed him.”

*****Free-agent wide receiver Terrell Owens, who had knee surgery in the spring, is conducting a workout in California on Tuesday for teams to evaluate him. The Jets have no interest.

******C Nick Mangold did not practice again yesterday, but it sounds like he will play Sunday. Mangold said he hopes the high right ankle sprain he suffered on Sept. 18 is not an injury that lingers all season. CB Isaiah Trufant (hamstring) also did not practice. Cromartie (groin), DE Mike DeVito (knee) and DE Ropati Pitoitua (knee) were limited in practice. Ryan said he thought those three would play Sunday. . . . Chargers TE Antonio Gates (foot) did not practice yesterday.