Rookie receiver Kerley will play to crowd

Jeremy Kerley would be pumped for Monday night's preseason opener no matter where the game was played. But the rookie wide receiver has even more reason to be fired up about the Jets' game against the Texans in Houston, given that it's taking place about a three-hour drive from his roots in Austin, Texas.

Kerley will have friends and family in the Reliant Stadium stands, making things all that more magical as he plays in his first pro game.

"I'm excited, man," Kerley said. "A lot of my people will be there, so it's definitely like a home game and I'm going to try to make the most of it."

Kerley is the leading candidate to return kicks and punts and likely will get more than his share of chances to touch the ball. "I feel comfortable," he said. "I feel like that's what separated me in college from a lot of different players. On the NFL level, I know the game moves a lot faster, but I think I'm ready for this challenge and I'm just ready for this game on Monday night to see what happens."

Mason eager

Even though he's into in his 15th preseason, wideout Derrick Mason has a budding anticipation for Monday night's contest, given that he's making his debut for his third team.

"I think everybody is anxious to be out there," Mason said, "but I'll probably have a little bit more pep in my step considering that I'm the new guy in the bunch. I'm just eager to get out there and see what [Mark] Sanchez does the first series or how many plays he plays, and see what the first-team offense does out there."

Extra points

New Steelers WR Jerricho Cotchery, released by the Jets on Aug. 4, told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette he felt it was time to part with the team he played with for seven seasons.

"It was time to move on," he said. "Future-wise, I didn't really see myself fitting in. People on the outside looking in might say, well, you been there that long, you're part of the future, but I didn't really see it that way. I think it would have been beneficial for both sides to move on."