Now that the New York Jets have signed former Ravens’ wide receiver Derrick Mason and let Jerricho Cotchery go, quarterback Mark Sanchez can start trying to gel with his completely remodeled receiver group.
After the lockout ended the Jets started revamping last year’s entourage of wideouts by handing off-the-field migraine Braylon Edwards his walking papers and inking Santonio Holmes to a five-year, $50 million contact that included $25 million in guarantees. Joining Holmes was Plaxico Burress fresh out of prison garb after a two-year absence from the league.
Edwards scurried off to the West Coast with his tail between his legs and settled for a one year, $3.5 million deal with only $1 million guaranteed from the 49ers. Although last season’s DUI arrest that included a breathalyzer test that was said to read .16 may not have directly affected his pocketbook in the court system, it certainly may have played a role in getting such a non-committal offer from the ‘9ers.
Replacing a player like Edwards who has a questionable off-the-field history with another who has shown poor judgment like Burress….well…it’s the Jets so what else should we expect.
Back to the Mason replacing Cotchery debate, I have to imagine New Yorkers are bantering in cafes and coffeehouses about whether 29-year-old Cotchery should have been let loose to sign 37-year-old Mason but when you look at any numbers not related to birthdates, they don’t lie.
Mason dominated in most every category compared to Cotchery finishing with 61 receptions (out of 100 attempts) for 802 yards to Cotchery’s 41 catches (of 87 attempts) for 433 yards. More important may be Mason’s nine catches of 20-plus yards as opposed to Cotchery’s three as well as Mason’s 44 catches for first downs to 26 edge.
Spreading the defense can only help Sanchez and the Jets get over the hump after losing two AFC Championship games in a row.
Regardless what the fans want to debate, according to Coach Rex Ryan, the popular Cotchery wanted to be let loose.
“J-Co…asked for a trade or to be released…that’s what happened.” – Rex Ryan
Just weeks away from the kickoff of the 2011 season, the answer to the most important question remains to be seen. Will this new crew of hands help Sanchez waltz his Jets into their first Super Bowl appearance since Super Bowl III in 1969?
Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda
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