Derrick Mason Trade: Jets' GM Mike Tannenbaum Says 'Things Didn't Work Out On The Field'

New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum and head coach Rex Ryan said today that Tuesday’s trade of wide receiver Derrick Mason was based on performance, not on any locker room issues or comments Mason made to the media.

“Things didn’t work out on the field with Derrick,” Tannenbaum said. “Why he wasn’t successful on the field, there’s probably a lot of factors that do go into that. Suffice it to say, he just didn’t play at the level that he had hoped and we had hoped.”

Mason, 37, caught just 13 passes in five games with the Jets. He played only six snaps Sunday against New England after playing at least 30 in each of the Jets first four games.

Mason has 937 receptions for 12,006 yards in a 15-year NFL career.

“I’ve always had a ton of respect for Derrick, and still do,” Ryan said. “I was probably the most excited guy in the building when Derrick decided to sign here. For whatever reason, it didn’t happen.”

Mason started his career with the Tennessee Titans from 1997-2004. He spent the 2005-10 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, who the Texans play in Week 6. He had 61 catches for 802 yards and seven touchdowns with Baltimore last season.

The Texans were thrilled to be able to acquire Mason.

“We’ve played maybe two-and-a-half games with three healthy wide receivers, so it’s really been scary from that standpoint,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “We had a chance to go get a guy that still runs very well even though he’s played a long time in this league. He’s been very effective in this league. We feel like we can catch him up real fast, so that was a big key.”

-- See Gang Green Nation for more on the Jets

-- See Battle Red Blog for the Texans' perspective

Mark Sanchez Defends Brian Schottenheimer's Offense

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez voiced his support this week for offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer on 1050 ESPN New York radio. Schottenheimer has come under fire recently after a report that the Jets wide receivers complained to head coach Rex Ryan about the offense.

Here's the money quote from Sanchez (via Sports News):

"That's an easy out (criticizing Schottenheimer) for fans and critics, but that's fine. When you don't play well, people are going to let you know what they think and how they feel ... but I am totally behind Brian, and all the coaches and players are as well."

The Jets offense is ranked 28th in the NFL, but the problem has not necessarily been through the air. New York has the 21st-ranked pass attack in the league, averaging 222.1 yards per game. Meanwhile the Jets are 31st in the league in rushing yards per game.

For the latest on Schottenheimer and the Jets offense, keep up with this comprehensive StoryStream. For more on the Jets, head over to Gang Green Nation.

New York Jets Trade Derrick Mason to Houston Texans for Draft Pick

Multiple reports have confirmed that the New York Jets have traded wide receiver Derrick Mason to the Houston Texans for a draft pick. The trade has yet to be formally announced, but it appears as though the Jet tenure of Mason lasted just five games.

This is a move that makes it apparent that there have been some rifts in the Jets’ locker room between players and coaches. A New York Daily News report surfaced on Sunday ahead of the Jets’ 31-20 loss to the Patriots that receivers Mason, Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress all went to Rex Ryan to complain about offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and his play calling. The Jets denied the report, but the trade of Mason seems to confirm that something has been awry behind closed doors.

Also evidence of the locker room drama was the fact that Mason was benched for all but six snaps in Sunday’s loss to the Patriots. Rookie wideout Jeremy Kerley took his place, and responded with three catches and a touchdown. It appears as though the Jets will go with Kerley as the number three wide receiver from now on.

Mason had just 13 catches for 115 yards in five games as a Jet.

Jets Coach Rex Ryan: Schottenheimer Talk 'Completely False'

1050 ESPN New York with The Michael Kay Show New York Jets coach Rex Ryan denied, again, that some of the team’s veteran wide receivers had complained to him about offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

Courtesy of Sports Radio Interviews, here are excerpts of Ryan’s interview with Kay.

Is there anyway that someone in the organization could have told the New York Daily News that the players did not like what Brian Schottenheimer was doing?

“That one? This is the one we have a tough time with because supposedly all three of the guys [Derrick Mason, Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes] came into me and talked about it and things. Well that means I was involved in a conversation. I can tell you right now I never heard that kind of conversation with any of them. That’s completely false.”

Did you ever hear any dissatisfaction from Derrick Mason, Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes about the way Brian Schottenheimer was calling the game?

“Absolutely not. Absolutely not.”

Is this team on the brink of ruining this season?

“No. I can understand we lost three games in a row. How positive can you be? I’m saying this: It’s right out there in front of us. We have to get this win against Miami on Monday. We finally get home. We talked about it forever. We gotta take care of our home field. This is an opportunity for us and quite honestly we have to win this.”

Jets Deny Rift Between Schottenheimer, Receivers

Prior to Sunday afternoon’s game against the New England Patriots, which the New York Jets lost, 30-21, the team felt the necessity to go to the extraordinary step of issuing a statement denying reports that several Jets wide receivers had gone to coach Rex Ryan to complain about offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

The statement read:

The New York Jets deny a report this morning that wide receivers Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes and Derrick Mason have gone to Head Coach Rex Ryan individually in the past few weeks to question offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s system.

After the loss Ryan was asked about the reports, and denied any players had come to him.

“That’s “Ripley’s” to me. If it is, then maybe I got hit in the head or something. I don’t remember that," Ryan said.

One of those wide receivers, Plaxico Burress, said the Daily News made the whole thing up:

“Whoever wrote that story, they’re just making up stories. I would like to get the name of the guy who wrote it because that never happened. Whoever wrote it is just trying to make himself look good, but it’s all rumors,” Burress said.

Ryan can try to pass it off with humor, but it’s pretty obvious the Jets are not playing well on offense and they they are not all on the same page.

Giants, Jets Fans Can Be Miserable Together