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CORTLAND, N.Y. -- All the begging might finally be paying off for Antonio Cromartie. The speedy and athletic cornerback has been lobbying Rex Ryan to let him play at wide receiver, and he might get that opportunity this season with the New York Jets. Cromartie participated in individual drills with the receivers for the first time during practice Monday, running routes and catching passes as coaches watched him. "It felt good," Cromartie said. "At this point, Im just learning the steps and trying to learn more about the position, running routes. I felt pretty good today about catching the ball, too." He made waves early in training camp when he said he would rank himself as the teams second-best wide receiver behind Santonio Holmes. The Jets (No. 17 in the AP Pro32) are dealing with a number of injuries at the position, including to Holmes, so Cromartie getting time on offence and defence in a game might not be such a long shot anymore. "Im definitely hoping," he said. "Im looking forward to it. Ive been waiting for the opportunity to try to play both ways in the NFL for a while." Actually, Cromartie said he has been asking to do it since his rookie season with the San Diego Chargers in 2006. "Its fun," Cromartie said. "Its an opportunity to get the ball in your hands and another challenge. Im looking at going out and playing receiver as a challenge for me." After defending NFL wide receivers for the first six seasons of his career, becoming one -- at least part-time -- is an intriguing idea for Cromartie. "Well see how excited he is when he gets smacked by a safety," a joking Ryan said. Cromartie played both ways in high school in Tallahassee, Fla., and was slated to play some at wide receiver during his junior year at Florida State. But he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the off-season and missed that season. Still, he was drafted in the first round by the Chargers. Cromartie has flashed tremendous playmaking ability on defence and as a kick returner on special teams. Next up: wide receiver. And theres one major reason, in his mind, that hell get that shot this season. "Uh, because we got a different co-ordinator," Cromartie said. "Plus, I bugged Rex every opportunity to put me on offence, so I finally get my chance. I got a couple plays last year, but this year, Ill actually get a chance to play a little more receiver." Brian Schottenheimer, replaced by Tony Sparano, actually used Cromartie at wide receiver for five snaps last year, but his work at the position wasnt extensive. Cromartie has talked to Holmes about playing wide receiver, trying to learn the nuances of the position and getting any tips he can. "Any help I can get right now is going to be big," Cromartie said, "and Im going to try to add it to my game." Cheap Jerseys Paypal . Pittsburgh began mailing out instructions to their season ticketholders on how to buy tickets for post-season games. Cheap NFL Jerseys China .  This week, Arsenal catches offensive fire while Everton gets unlucky and Manchester United shines with their brightest lights on the bench. http://www.bwjerseys.com/ . Thats what the Oklahoma City Thunder are hoping for as they prepare to take on the Miami Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday.NHL commissioner Gary Bettmans deadline to save an 82-game season has arrived, but there are still no meetings planned between the league and the NHL Players Association. Bettman has said previously that a full season will not be possible after the Oct. 25 deadline passes. The NHLs most recent offer of Oct. 16 was predicated on a training camp beginning on Oct. 26 and the first games to be played on Nov. 2. "Things seem to be not progressing the way we would like - its disappointing," Bettman told reporters at a Wednesday media conference announcing the Islanders move to Brooklyn in 2015. Having already cancelled the first 135 games on the schedule through Nov. 1 so far, the NHL will likely cancel additional regular season games on Friday. Its unlikely that this round of cuts will include the Jan. 1 Winter Classic, although its fate will be determined within days. The NHLs position hasnt changed since it rejected three offers from the union last week and there is no intent to meet with the union until it is prepared to negotiate off of the NHLs most recent offer.dddddddddddd "The players made multiple core-economic proposals Thursday (last week) that were a significant move in the owners direction," said NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr in a statement on Thursday. "We are and continue to be ready to meet to discuss how to resolve our remaining differences, with no preconditions. For whatever reason, the owners are not. "At the same time they are refusing to meet, they are winding the clock down to yet another artificial deadline they created." It is likely that contact between the sides will be made on Thursday. But unless the Players Association invites the league back to bargaining with promise of a new proposal, its unlikely any discussions will be progressive. ' ' '