The Jets took the unusual step of issuing a statement hours before kickoff to refute a report that the team’s wide receivers had complained about offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason all joined in the denials after the team’s 30-21 loss to the Patriots. Mason was particularly defiant, even after spending most of the game on the bench while Jeremy Kerley played when the team went with three receivers.
“I’m not part of it,” Mason said. “I come here and do what they ask me to do and play good football. I’ve always said the play-caller makes the play-calls and the players have got to make them work. If we make them work then they’re great play callers. If we don’t make them work then everyone wants to jump on the OC.”
Rex Ryan said that the team wanted to see more of Kerley, but Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com is reporting that’s not the entire story. Cimini reports that Ryan benched Mason because of his mouth. There’s another report, from Jenny Vrentas of the Newark Star-Ledger, that Mason has had a hard time picking up the offense. Both add new wrinkles to figuring out a Jets offense that’s in freefall after Sunday’s dismal showing against a Patriots defense that spent the first four weeks being shredded by their opponents.
Regardless of the reason for Mason’s benching, he’s been a disappointment since joining the team as a free agent. Kerley caught a touchdown on Sunday and the speed he’s shown on punt returns could give the Jets something they need on offense as they try to find a way forward after two terrible outings.