Burress Suits Up, Mason Shows Up at Jets Camp

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Plaxico Burress was in pads and didn’t fully participate in practice, and Derrick Mason stood on the sidelines in a grey long-sleeve shirt and shorts, but just having both here Sunday was a welcoming sign for the Jets.

Burress woke up feeling good and was given the green light to practice in pads for the first time since serving a 20-month prison sentence and participated in various individual drills. But Coach Rex Ryan didn’t allow Burress to take part in team drills, despite the receiver’s efforts.

“I tried to sneak in there,” Burress said. “Rex basically told me ‘Hey, it’s a good start, we don’t want any setbacks.’ If they wouldn’t have taken me out, I would’ve kept on going. It was my first time out there in a couple years. It just felt good to kind of get back in the groove, but Rex shut me down.”

Burress had been held out of practice since tweaking his ankle running routes last week. Before practice Sunday, Ryan said he hoped Burress would play in the Jets’ preseason opener on Monday against the Texans, and Burress expects to.

“I don’t see why not,” he said. “If they give me the nod to go, I’m definitely going to get out there. I think if anybody needs all the work they can get, it’s me.”

Burress’s first day in pads was also Mason’s first day with the club. Mason, who agreed to a two-year contract with the Jets on Saturday, flew in Sunday in time to catch the tail end of practice. He expects to practice on Monday.

Mason is likely to replace Jerricho Cotchery, who was granted his request of a release on Thursday, as the No. 3 wideout. Mason has missed only six games in 14 seasons and has started every game but two over the last eight seasons. He is a two-time Pro Bowler, was named first-team All-Pro in 2000, and has registered eight 1,000-yard seasons.

Mason said he was “blindsided” by the Baltimore Ravens’ cutting him on July 25, but the release didn’t weigh into his decision to join the Jets instead of the Ravens or the Tennessee Titans, where he also played earlier in his career. For the 37-year-old Mason, it’s all about winning as his career winds down.

“This is an opportunity,” Mason said. “I’m coming to the end of my career and I can still play a lot of good football, but I want to take every opportunity to win the Super Bowl. And for me, this was the best place to try to get that.”

Mason added, “No. 1 on my list was to win and win quickly.”

Ryan, who was the Ravens’ defensive coordinator when Mason was on the team, said he called Mason several times to give his pitch. Mason said the calls made him feel like going through the college recruiting process all over again.

Mason admitted the decision was tough on him and his children after he spent extra time with then during the lockout, but the opportunity to play for a Super Bowl contender was too good to pass up.

“When you have someone sitting across from you that understands, that knows your work and knows that you play this game and still play it at a high level, that means a lot,” Mason said. “And that’s what Coach Rex basically echoed to me.”

Burress, a fellow Michigan State product, said having the experienced Mason around would be like having another coach.

“It’s good to have Derrick around,” Burress said. “I want to learn every day. He’s a veteran guy. He’s a little older than me and I’m going to take in everything that he teaches me. We can all learn from each other from one standpoint or another.”

Mason Chooses Jets Over Titans and Ravens

The Jets completed the dramatic refashioning of their receiving corps Saturday, signing Derrick Mason to be their third receiver with Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress.

Mason chose the Jets over the Tennessee Titans, where he played for the first eight seasons of his career (he still lives in Nashville), and the Baltimore Ravens, where he played the last six seasons. He is familiar with Jets Coach Rex Ryan, linebacker Bart Scott, safety Jim Leonhard and defensive lineman Trevor Pryce, from their shared days with the Ravens.

“Going from one young gun to another,” Mason wrote on his Twitter feed, referring to jumping from playing with quarterback Joe Flacco in Baltimore to Mark Sanchez with the Jets.

At 37, Mason is no longer the primary receiving threat he used to be, when he had eight 1,000-yard seasons. As recently as 2007, he caught 103 passes. But he remains consistently productive. Last season, he caught 61 passes, his lowest total since 2000. But he scored seven touchdowns, and he averaged 13.1 yards per reception.

With the departures of Jerricho Cotchery, who asked to be released, and Braylon Edwards and Brad Smith to free agency, signing Mason became imperative for the Jets. The talent in the available wide receiver pool drops off considerably with him off the market. Because of the uncertainty surrounding Burress’s return to football after more than two years out of the game and in prison, the Jets were in need an experienced receiver who could pair with Holmes if necessary. If all three are on the field together, Mason will probably play in the slot, where he still excels at running routes in traffic.

Mason’s choice came as a bit of a surprise after Ryan indicated on Friday that Mason would likely have to take less money to join the Jets and it became clear the Ravens wanted Mason to return, after cutting him in a salary-cap move last week. Mason attended the Jets’ practice on Thursday, but left without making a decision – usually a sign that the player will land elsewhere. The terms of Mason’s Jets contract were not disclosed, although it is believed to be a one-year deal.

“I would like to thank my family for supporting this difficult decision I made today!” Mason wrote on Twitter. “For 14 yrs they have been by my side and they chose to do it yet again even though this time it was hard for them!! Also I would like to thank all of Baltimore for supporting me for the last 6 Years!! U guys and gals have been my football family and I will forever appreciate that support and love!”

Cotchery Is Released by the Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Not long before Jerricho Cotchery’s tenure with the Jets came to an end with his release on Thursday, his thoughts drifted to an August afternoon in 2008. With Brett Favre en route to his introductory news conference in Cleveland as the Jets’ new quarterback, Chad Pennington stood before the Jets’ offense and, in one of his final acts as their starting quarterback, gave a heartfelt and emotional speech.

“It was a tough deal for a lot of people,” Cotchery said. “He was a great leader for this team, and he got released.”

Almost three years later, Cotchery  found himself in a position similar to Pennington’s, with teammates sharing memories and offering  tributes to him. A scheduled visit to Jets headquarters Thursday by the 37-year-old free-agent Derrick Mason foretold bad news for Cotchery, one of the team’s most dependable receivers and respected players.

Mason, familiar with Ryan from their time with the Baltimore Ravens, is expected to supplant Cotchery, 29, as the Jets’ No. 3 receiver.

Later, Coach Rex Ryan said that the Jets had wanted to keep Cotchery, but that he had asked to be traded or released.

“He means the world to the team and the organization — I mean, from my eyes,” cornerback Darrelle Revis said.

Revis  added: “He’s done a lot for this organization. He has a clean record. He’s not out here getting in trouble. He’s representing himself the right way. You’ve got to try to at least reward a guy, keep him on the team as long as you can because those guys, you want to try to replace them, but you really can’t.”

Quarterback Mark Sanchez said he was surprised earlier this week when he heard that Cotchery might leave the team.

In seven seasons with the Jets, Cotchery evolved from special teamer to standout receiver, catching 358 passes for 4,514 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Perhaps his most memorable reception occurred last Nov. 14 in Cleveland, when he tore a muscle in his left groin early in a play but hopped nine times on his right foot to get open and made a crucial diving catch.

Cotchery missed two games with that injury and was also hampered by a herniated disk in his back, which required off-season surgery and landed him on the physically unable to perform list.

He said he expected to play soon, but for another team, not the Jets, the only organization he knows.

“Everyone wants that dream scenario where they want to play their entire career with one team,” Cotchery said. “But it doesn’t happen that often.”

With Mason in the Wings, Cotchery Senses His Time Has Passed

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Resigned to his fate that he would be cut, Jerricho Cotchery’s thoughts Thursday drifted to an August afternoon in 2008. With Brett Favre en route to his introductory news conference in Cleveland as the Jets’ new quarterback, Chad Pennington stood before the Jets’ offense and, in one of his final acts as their starting quarterback, gave a heartfelt and emotional speech.

“It was a tough deal for a lot of people,” Cotchery said. “He was a great leader for this team, and he got released.”

Almost three years later exactly, his teammates were offering similar tributes to Cotchery. A scheduled visit to Jets headquarters Thursday by the free agent Derrick Mason foretold bad news for Cotchery, one of the team’s most dependable receivers and respected players.

Cotchery, 29, was bracing for his release, waiting only for Mason, 37, to pass his physical exam. Mason, familiar with Coach Rex Ryan from their time with the Baltimore Ravens, would supplant Cotchery as the Jets’ No. 3 receiver.

“He means the world to the team and the organization — I mean, from my eyes,” cornerback Darrelle Revis said.

Revis added: “He’s done a lot for this organization. He has a clean record. He’s not out here getting in trouble. He’s representing himself the right way. You’ve got to try to at least reward a guy, keep him on the team as long as you can because those guys, you want to try to replace them, but you really can’t.”
In seven seasons with the Jets, Cotchery evolved from special teamer to standout receiver, catching 358 passes for 4,514 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Perhaps his most memorable reception occurred last Nov. 14 in Cleveland, when he tore a muscle in his left groin early in a play but hopped nine times on his right foot to get open and made a crucial diving catch.
Cotchery missed two games with that injury and was also hampered by a herniated disd in his back, which required off-season surgery and landed him on the physically unable to perform list.

He said he expected to play soon, but for another team, not the Jets, the only organization he knows.

“Everyone wants that dream scenario where they want to play their entire career with one team,” Cotchery said. “But it doesn’t happen that often.”