Derrick Mason is reuniting with Rex Ryan, this time with the New York Jets.
The former Ravens wide receiver announced yesterday that he is signing with the Jets, adding a boost to New York’s receiving corps.
Mason said in a statement that he’s “looking forward to working under Rex and rejoining some familiar faces.’’ After choosing the Jets over the Ravens and Titans, he wrote on his Twitter page: “Jet fuel is full time to fly!!!!’’
Mason, 37, fills the void created when the Jets granted Jerricho Cotchery’s request to be released. Mason spent his first eight seasons with the Tennessee franchise before playing six with Baltimore, where Ryan was an assistant.
Mason’s production fell off last season when he caught 61 passes for 802 yards, but he still caught seven TD passes. He was cut by the Ravens July 28.
Tebow willing to work Quarterback Tim Tebow said his comments to a newspaper columnist were misconstrued and insisted he wants to earn the starting job with the Broncos.
“I don’t feel like anything was taken away from me and I don’t want anything given,’’ he said. “I want to work for anything I get, that’s for sure. And I’ve always been like that.’’
The former Florida star caused a stir when he told a columnist for The Denver Post he felt his boyhood dream of being a starting quarterback in the NFL appeared to be imminent, then “was grabbed back away.’’
Incumbent starter Kyle Orton has been taking all the first-team snaps in camp after trade talks with the Dolphins went nowhere. Tebow had been leading most of the second-team plays, but he rotated with Brady Quinn Thursday and Friday.
Since trade talks fizzled, Orton has clearly outperformed Tebow and Quinn.
Tebow, for his part, said he hasn’t been given any indication from the team that it was his job. “Absolutely not, and they never would have said anything to me like that, at all,’’ he said. “The whole time it was, ‘Come in and compete,’ and that’s what you want, that’s what I love doing.’’
Finnegan walks out General manager Mike Reinfeldt said the Titans were surprised by cornerback Cortland Finnegan’s decision to walk out of training camp considering his agent had just sent them a counteroffer to consider during talks to extend his contract.
Finnegan left camp Friday night, just hours after his agent, Terry Watson, sent the Titans a counter to their offer on an extension to his contract. The Titans learned Finnegan had left when he did not report yesterday morning to a special teams meeting.
“We’ve tried to call him,’’ Reinfeldt said after practice at LP Field. “We’ve not been able to get in touch with him. It’s a tough situation.’’
