Antonio Cromartie

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie turned down more money to return to the Jets. (AP Photo | Rick Scuteri)

PHOENIX -- Cornerback Antonio Cromartie made no secret this offseason about his desire to return to the Jets, if the opportunity was right.

That's exactly what happened, as Cromartie signed in free agency with the Jets, after one season with the Cardinals. Nobody was surprised that Cromartie went back to the Jets, considering his fondness for the New York/New Jersey area, and familiarity with the Jets' new head coach, Todd Bowles, who previously was the Cardinals' defensive coordinator.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians had to have some expectation that he might lose Cromartie.

"But it's still money talks," Arians said Wednesday at the NFL's annual meeting. "It was going to come a time when money was going to go one way or the other. New York spent more than we were willing to pay. We draw a line in the sand. And we carry on from there."

The Jets gave Cromartie a team-friendly contract that includes $7 million in guaranteed pay, though there is no guaranteed money (or salary cap commitment) past 2015.

Cromartie did turn down more money from an unnamed organization to return to the Jets. But that organization wasn't the Cardinals.

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Still, Cromartie revived his career during his one-year contract in Arizona, so Arians is happy for him. Cromartie dealt with a hip injury in 2013 and had a miserable season, leading up to the Jets cutting him. Cromartie wasn't great in 2014, but he was better, and also healthier.

"It's been our philosophy to give those guys that opportunity to get that next contract, whether we get to keep them [or not]," Arians said. "Cro really, really worked on that hip. Every single day, he'd be in the training room. I think playing on grass helped him. And he had a great year."

Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.