Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery has witnessed plenty of stunning departures in his seven years with the New York Jets but he always clung to the romantic notion that he’d be different, that he’d able to finish his career with the team that drafted him. Not happening. Read more after the jump.
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The Jets released Cotchery on Thursday. He had said earlier in the day that the team had informed him that he would be released if free-agent receiver Derrick Mason passed his physical. Mason, released last week by the Baltimore Ravens was scheduled to meet Thursday with Jets officials at team headquarters. Barring an unexpected snag, Mason was expected to sign with the Jets to become their No. 3 wideout.
“Everyone wants that dream scenario, where you can play on one team your whole career, but it doesn’t happen too often,” a downcast Cotchery told reporters, resigned to his fate.
Cotchery figured to be the No. 3 receiver, his role last season, joining Santonio Holmes and recently signed Plaxico Burress. But a few days ago, the Jets started shopping Cotchery in trade talks. In fact, they gave his agent permission to seek a trade, according to a league source.
A trade would have been difficult because Cotchery still hasn’t been cleared to practice. He underwent back surgery in February to repair a herniated disk and, although he was encouraged by his rehab, he began training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list.
When Mason was officially released by the Ravens, the Jets immediately targeted him as a replacement for Cotchery. Rex Ryan is familiar with Mason, having spent four seasons with him in Baltimore. The Jets will save money in the swap, assuming Mason signs for less than the $1.8 million Cotchery was due to make.
Cotchery, 29, is one of the most respected players in the locker room, and word of his impending departure stung some players.
“It’s tough because he’s done a lot of things for this organization,” cornerback Darrelle Revis said. “I hope it doesn’t happen.”
For five seasons, Cotchery was the Jets’ most dependable receiver, but his play slipped last season; he committed a team-high nine drops. Unbeknownst to anyone outside the team, he played the entire season with the disk condition, opting to put off surgery to help the team.
Cotchery finished with 41 catches, 433 yards and two touchdowns, his worst numbers since becoming a full-time player in 2006. He missed two games because of a torn groin, an injury that occurred on one of the most memorable plays of the season.
It happened while running a pass route against the Cleveland Browns. He felt excruciating pain in his groin, but he kept playing and hopped nine times in an attempt to get open. He was spotted by Mark Sanchez and made a diving catch, his extended body horizontal to the ground — a huge play in the game. Afterward, several teammates remarked that it was one of the best catches they’d ever seen.
On his final day as a Jet, Cotchery was in a reflective mood as he discussed his past and future. As a young player, he remembered how respected veterans such as Curtis Martin and Chad Pennington took time to mentor new players. Cotchery said he always envisioned himself in that role, mentoring young Jets.
But he also recognized the cutthroat nature of the business.
“I’ve been here a long time and I’ve seen a lot of things,” he said. “I thought Chad Pennington would be a Jet forever, but one night in the preseason, he’s gone in the hotel” — a reference to the August 2008 trade that brought Brett Favre.
“I love being a Jet,” he continued. “But this happens, man. That’s life. I’m ready to move on.”
