APThe release of Jets receiver Jerricho Cotchery makes a little more sense after learning the backstory.
Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that Cotchery asked for a trade as far back as February. When the team brought in Plaxico Burress, Cotchery knew he’d be a reserve again. When they brought in Derrick Mason for a physical, he apparently had enough.
Mehta says Rex Ryan tried to convince Cotchery to stay more than once.
“I probably saw it coming for a little while,” Ryan said. “But I guess I never wanted to admit it.”
The Jets saw Cotchery as a No. 3 receiver, and apparently his role wasn’t guaranteed even there. Cotchery was hoping to get a new contract, but he was signed through 2012.
“He didn’t want to be here any more,” one source told Mehta. “He felt disrespected and underappreciated.”
There is no guarantee that Mason will land in New York. He has offers from other teams. With Braylon Edwards in San Francisco, the Jets need to find another receiver.
Meanwhile, we wonder if Cotchery could wind up in San Diego with close friend and college teammate Philip Rivers.
Eagles?
CARDINALS!!!
mojosmagic says:
Aug 5, 2011 9:27 AM
Eagles?
Why ?? That would make zero sense. The Eagles already have Cotch in Avant. In fact at this point Avant might be a little better. Avant has the best hands in the NFL period. Deal with it.
I love Cotch though and i really love him SD and baltimore. Both teams could use him and he fits what both do. But my money right now is on Sd. Rivers need some to go opposite of Jackson.
Ehh, he got what he wanted, but better.
When will the Jets learn…Its not the WR’s its the QB!..Mediocre at best.
Blue Jays!!!!
Oh.. sorry.. thought we were just throwing out names of birds…
Really sad progression here. The Jets had a good possession receiver with the ability to get yards after the catch. He was fairly clutch and he played with heart when the team needed it the most.
Despite all this the Jets spent two seasons trying to replace him and he finally took the hint and moved on. Booting good players out the door when they making the kind of money he was is just silly. They’re not that easy to find in the first place.
Really sad to see him go. This guy is an exciting player to watch
He is a class act. I can’t understand why the Jets would treat him this way
Mr. Cotchery … phone call for you … it’s Piggly Wiggly … that bagging job is yours, but you have to start tomorrow. But hey … you’re a starter !
I’m a Pats fan living in Chicago – I think he’d make a lot of sense for the Bears
LOL at a Ravens fan criticizing a team’s QB.
Flacco in 7 playoff starts:
4-3 98/184 (53%) 1050 yds (5.7 avg) 4/7 TD/INT 61.6 rating
Sanchez in 6 playoff starts:
4-2 95/157 (60.5%) 115 yds (7.4 avg) 9/3 TD/INT 94.3 rating
You can enjoy your hollow regular season numbers (considering the Ravens have played all of those playoff games on the road, just like the Jets).
Sanchez seems to be doing much better than average when it counts while AVERAGE would be an improvement for Flacco.
But how can that be? According to Jets fans- everyone wants to play for Rex Ryan!!!
I hope the Chargers land him as their WR depth isn’t as good as it should be.
I have a bad feeling that this is another season down the drain.
I mean we will do well because our offense is A+. But since our offense is like a body whose arms have been chopped off and has Marty Schottenheimer for a head. C- at best I would say.
I think the JETS will make the playoffs but I dont see us winning a superbowl with this offense.
Denver or Arizona.
Jets fans…The ship is sinking.
As a Charger fan, I got my fingers crossed we get him.
Being a total Rivers hack ive gone back and watched his college days where he hooked up with Cotch like no other.
Anybody in New York who thinks Cotch can’t do everything for you the other guys can’t are out of their minds. Some team is going to get a steal with a class act player with great hands and after the catch ability, and all because the Jets are so hung up on Big Star names rather than production.
Hope you Jets fans remember Cotch was catching balls getting you 1 game away from the superbowl the last 2 years while Plax was somebodys girlfriend
As a Cowboys fan, I’d like to see this guy brought in for some badly needed depth at WR.
Class act and a tough receiver.
LOL at a Ravens fan criticizing a team’s QB.
Flacco in 7 playoff starts:
4-3 98/184 (53%) 1050 yds (5.7 avg) 4/7 TD/INT 61.6 rating
Sanchez in 6 playoff starts:
4-2 95/157 (60.5%) 115 yds (7.4 avg) 9/3 TD/INT 94.3 rating
Got to like a guy that actually has stats to backup his claim.. and has done a little homework. Although, really.. Sanchez is waaay over rated.
But still like the effort!
Sanchez only had 115 passing yards in 6playoff games? You better put that gun back in its holster, cause those numbers are a joke!
practice squad WR’s should be busy M-F considering Santonio and Plax wont be. Cant wait to see this new aerial attack and how well developed Sanchez has become.
Yesterday i was feeling bad for JCo. Now i hear he wanted to be traded cause he couldnt handle them bringing in other guys and trying to improve the team. That pisses me off, hes supposed to be a big team player and he cant handle them trying to get better. JCo no doubt is a good solid receiver but the other guys they have or have had have been better so i dont know what he expected. I never thought he was a me player and i still really dont but this definatly makes me look at him in a different way and i definatly dont feel bad for him anymore he got what he wanted.
As a Patriots fan I am glad to see the back of him, he had some great games against us.
Makes me wonder what the thinking is behind this move. The Jets are not swimming in high quality receivers, who knows what Burress will bring to the table, Edwards has gone, Smith has gone and now they let go a really solid guy.
Maybe he does not keep his feet as clean as he should!!!
@fissels
He is a class act. I can’t understand why the Jets would treat him this way
Amazing this comment actually gets thumbs up lol. Did you read the article? He wanted a trade or release and they gave him what he wanted how is that treating him bad? I really wonder how much of a class act he is the more i think about it because essentially he quit on his team because he couldnt handle the competition they were bringing in. All the jets are trying to do is improve the team and win a SB and he couldnt take it. I love JCo but if hes gonna have that attitude im glad they let him go. Hes not unreplacable, they have other guys that will have a chance to step up like the rookie wr kerley and maybe mason if they sign him.
Sadly, he began to decline, he had nine drop passes last season, including three in a crucial game versus the Packers in that shutout loss to them. He had only 433 receiving yards last season another down year for him. Add back surgery, starting the season on the PUP list, costing against the cap, and you have a recipe for getting released.
Cotch, like many athletes want out when egos are hurt and this is no different. He wanted a new contract, etc., so he got what he wanted a release but he won’t get that new long term contract at the age of 29 for his body of work.
When the Pats or Steelers release, trade or otherwise jettison a veteran on the decline its a great football move.. when the Jets do the same thing its classes. Amazing.
Also love the Sanchez hate.. as if he has been playing for 5 years without improvement, not a 24 year old with limited starts in college and entering his 3rd year in the NFL