If you want someone to start gushing in the Jets organization, mention Buster Skrine.

The nickel cornerback has become one of the most popular players in the locker room and offices in Jets headquarters thanks to his work ethic and the way he plays.
“Oh, I love Buster, man,” said wide receiver Brandon Marshall. “He’s a stud. I love practicing against him, that’s the main thing. He makes everyone around him better. He only knows one speed. He’s what you call a football player. There’s wide receivers, there’s cornerbacks, there’s quarterbacks, then there’s football players, guys you can just put on the football field and they’re going to make the play, and that’s him.”
The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Skrine does not look intimidating without pads on, with his blond dreadlocks and small frame (for an NFL locker room). But watch him play and you’ll see an aggressive playmaker who is all over the field. Against the Colts on Monday night, Skrine led the team with eight tackles, had a tackle for loss and caused Andrew Luck to throw an interception to Calvin Pryor when he blitzed off the edge.
“Pound for pound, he’s the strongest guy on the team,” defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said. “He works hard. When Buster’s in the game, we don’t really worry about him. From our standpoint, this guy is a starter in every aspect. There’s nothing we don’t mind asking him to do. He works hard. He’s tough. He’s professional. We love the guy.”

The Jets signed Skrine to a four-year, $25 million contract with $13 million guaranteed minutes after free agency opened in March. The contract turned heads because Skrine was not a well-known name with fans from his four years with the Browns. The website Pro Football Focus called it one of the worst signings of free agency.
Skrine has now emerged from the obscurity of Cleveland.
“I think the NFL knew about me,” Skrine said. “But in Cleveland, we weren’t a big-market team. Monday night was my first Monday night game. I always had the stats to back it up, but I just wanted the highest mark of a player. Coming here, that helps with that, too, but I’m just glad we have such a talented team.”
Skrine was the first cornerback to sign with the Jets, joined later by Darrelle Revis and then Antonio Cromartie. While Revis and Cromartie are Batman and Robin, getting all the glory on the outside, Skrine is the movable piece in Todd Bowles’ defense that can cause havoc with blitzes and shut down slot receivers.
“I love playing in this defense,” Skrine said. “I can play fast. I can play free. Just this defense that Bowles has brought here helps me play fast and I’m more comfortable out there.”
A former Jet actually steered Skrine toward Gang Green. Aaron Glenn, the former Jets cornerback who is now the Browns’ assistant defensive backs coach, told Skrine about Bowles when Glenn coached Skrine in Cleveland. Glenn had played for Bowles with the Jets in 2000. Browns linebacker Karlos Dansby, who played for Bowles in Miami and Arizona, also told Skrine he loved playing for Bowles.
“I said everyone likes him, so why not?” Skrine said.
Skrine now sees what the fuss is about and loves playing for Bowles. The feeling is mutual.
“He plays hard. I mean, he really plays hard,” Bowles said. “He practices hard, he’s in great shape, and he’s in great condition. He fights on every play. He just fights every single play. He’s a guy you love watching play and love to have on your team.”