Jets receivers deny dissension in ranks
Santonio Holmes of the Jets looks on before the start of New York's NFL preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. (Sept. 1, 2011) Credit: MCT
FOXBORO, Mass. -- To hear the Jets tell it, there's no mutiny on the SS Rex Ryan, as one New York tabloid proclaimed in a back-page headline Sunday. Before the Jets even took the field against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, the club issued a formal denial of a story that cited an unnamed source saying veteran wide receivers Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes and Derrick Mason went to Ryan to complain about offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
The Jets' offense was inconsistent in a 30-21 loss to the Patriots, going three-downs-and-out seven times in 11 possessions as they attempted to regain their ground-and-pound identity by running on 25 plays and passing on 26. But in the postgame locker room, everyone was rowing in the same direction when it came to reports of dissension in the ranks.
First it was Ryan's turn to respond to the report published in the Daily News. "That's Ripley's to me," Ryan cracked. "Maybe I got hit in the head, but I don't remember that."
The three players were even more emphatic with their denials of speaking to Ryan about any dissatisfaction with the offense or Schottenheimer, who was not available for comment.
"That never happened," Burress said. "Whoever wrote it, they're making up stories to make themselves look good. It's all erroneous . . . I haven't gone in to Rex and spoken to him personally about anything. Whoever wrote that story, it's incorrect facts and erroneous."
Holmes, one of the team captains named by Ryan, said, "I honestly have no idea where that came from or who could have said it. But me personally, I have no issue with coach Schottenheimer and didn't go and talk to Rex about anything."
Mason appeared to be in a more ticklish situation. He did offer some criticism of the offense after the Jets' loss a week earlier in Baltimore, and he found himself replaced as the third wide receiver by rookie Jeremy Kerley against the Patriots.
"I've been in this game 15 years, and I've never criticized an offensive coordinator to a head coach," Mason said. "Never once. I have enough problems going on myself. I'm not going to add another to it. Whoever told you all that, I wish you would tell me who it is so I could ask them why they put my name in that mess. I'm not a part of it."
Mason declined to say whether Ryan discussed his role change before the game, but Kerley, who caught a 9-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, said he was used exactly the way he practiced all week.
"It is coincidence," Mason said. "I'm going to be honest. I've never held back any punches. I've always told the truth based on my perception. But I had nothing to do with the allegations of me talking to Rex. I had no part of that."
Mason caught one 7-yard pass for a key third-down conversion in the Jets' final scoring drive that ended with a 21-yard pass from quarterback Mark Sanchez to Holmes, who had four catches for 60 yards. Burress blamed himself for a couple of drops but had three catches for 42 yards.
All three expressed confidence that the passing game will improve. Of the top four receivers, only Holmes was with the Jets last season, so chemistry still could be an issue.
"You've got to fault the lockout," Holmes said. "Not enough time to get a feel for the players. He's a professional quarterback. We can't make any excuses for ourselves and even for him. We've just got to find a way to win ballgames."
