Jerricho Cotchery (Getty Images)
Jerricho Cotchery’s Jets career may come to an end as early as today. Free agent wide receiver Derrick Mason is expected to meet with the team at their Florham Park headquarters, and if he passes a physical, the Jets will sign him. If that’s the case, Cotchery says he expects to be released.
Cotchery, 29, has played his entire seven year career with the Jets. He has 358 receptions with his most productive years coming in 2006, ’07, and ’08 when he caught 82, 82, and 71 passes respectively. As I said a couple days ago, he’s one of the most undervalued players to ever put on a Jets uniform. He’s also one of the classiest.
Cotchery is scheduled to make $1.8 million this year, and Mason could be signed for a lot less. But it will be a sad day if Cotchery is let go. First, he’s a better receiver than Mason and he’s eight years younger. More importantly, he’s a class act who the Jets really need in the locker room.
I went to a lot of Jets games a few years back, when Cotchery was the team’s go-to-receiver. The sound of the PA announcer saying, “Pass Complete to No. 89 Jerricho Cotchery. That’s good for another Jets first down!” is still in my head. I hope I get to hear that again.
(UPDATE - 7:30 pm) The Jets released Cotchery late this afternoon.
