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.”
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-- See Battle Red Blog for the Texans' perspective