Cotchery sets courageous example during Jets' overtime win

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - At first, Damien Woody couldn't put it into words.

Over the past 12 years in the NFL, the Jets' right tackle has seen some great plays. But Jerricho Cotchery's was something special.

"It's one of the best plays I've ever seen," Woody said.

Cotchery suffered a "slight tear" in his left groin as he tried to run a route during overtime in Sunday's 26-20 win over Cleveland. Unbeknownst to quarterback Mark Sanchez, Cotchery stopped short of his route and grabbed his groin in pain.

The receiver fully extended his body and caught the ball, despite a Browns defender in hot pursuit. Doctors have not given Cotchery a timetable or ruled him out for Sunday's game against Houston.

"When I came out of that break, I just felt my groin give," Cotchery said. "I just saw Mark scramble out of the pocket and I was like, 'Don't look at me.' But he did and he told me to slide all the way and I'm like, 'I can't.' But he threw the ball so I just tried to make a play."

Cotchery's 10-yard catch on third-and-9 from the Jets' 37 eventually was wasted because of a missed field goal by Nick Folk. But the impact of his gutsy catch will be felt far beyond this week, his teammates said.

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"You see this guy come into the screen [as we're] watching film, hobbling on one leg and grabbing himself trying to hold himself together. And for him to just dive and full extend, that's sacrifice," Santonio Holmes said. "And that's what we're constantly building around here, guys that are willing to give themselves up for the team, make the plays that are necessary and allow us to win ballgames."

Cotchery, though, shrugged off his gritty move, saying: "I was just trying to make a play for the team at that point in time."

And that, Rex Ryan said, is what being a Jet is all about.

"You look at J-Co, he's bouncing around on one leg staying alive," he said. "Just an unbelievable catch. It's impossible. I don't know how he did it. It's crazy. But man, you talk about playing like a Jet and everything else . . .

"In all the years I've ever coached, I know I've never seen it. It was just an amazing effort. 'I'm going to stay alive. All right Mark, go ahead. Fire it.' He already gave his body up for the team. And then to lay out like that and make that kind of play, absolutely ridiculous. I don't know how many guys in this league could make that play and would even attempt that play. I think we have some of them on our team. It was amazing."

For now, the Jets will take a wait-and-see approach with Cotchery, who said surgery is not being considered at this time. Instead, he'll receive treatment, such as ice, stimulation, tissue massages and cold tubs.

"My body normally responds well to treatment, so I'm pretty optimistic about it," he said. "They didn't put a timetable on it, so that's a good sign. Usually when it's bad, they can put a timetable on it right away."