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.