2011 New York Jets Collapse: Who's to Blame for Schottenheimer-Mason Debacle?

Going into the game against the New England Patriots, there were reports of New York Jets receivers such as Plaxico Burress, Derrick Mason and Santonio Holmes complaining to head coach Rex Ryan about the offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.  

On Sunday, before the Jets 30-21 loss to the Patriots, the New York Daily News published a story saying that the three receivers individually went to Ryan over the last four weeks to complain about Schottenheimer.  The beginning of the article reads,   

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"Four weeks into a season with Super Bowl expectations, the locker-room complaints have grown louder in light of the Jets' offensive struggles.

The Daily News has learned that wide receivers Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason have individually gone to Rex Ryan in the past few weeks to question offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer's system."

 

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After the Jets lost to the Patriots, more focus was being put on the reports of the receivers complaining about Schottenheimer, who has been under the spotlight for the last few years.  

Days later, the Jets traded away Derrick Mason, the oldest of the group, to the Houston Texans for a seventh-round pick in the 2012 draft, citing his play over the last few weeks as their reason for trading Mason.

Following his trade and first practice with the Texans, Mason answered questions as to what happened during his two months with Jets and said, via Rich Cimini:

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“I’m done, I just want to put that behind me as quickly as possible...They can continue to talk about it if they want, but I’ve got a job to do, and that’s to come here and play good football. I can’t worry about what happened in New York.

"I enjoyed my two months there, if it was that. I enjoyed Rex (Ryan). I’ve been knowing Rex for a long time, but things just don’t last...What I’m able to do out there on the field hasn’t diminished; the numbers may have, but if you watch me week-in and week-out, it’s the same guy," 

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During the press conference after the Patriots game, all Jets players and coaches questioned about the rumors of the receivers complaining to Schottenheimer were denied, but that does not mean they are not true.  

Since Rex Ryan became the Jets head coach, their actions have been under a microscope and they can never catch a break. With this problem, the Jets may be denying the allegations since their team is not doing well and they do not want to have any publicity.  

It is hard to believe the Jets really believe that Mason's play has decreased enough to trade him away for a pick as bad as a seventh-rounder.  During the Jets loss to Oakland, Mason had six catches, and while they may not have gone for big gains, a few were for first-down conversions.

His best catch of the day was when he made a one-handed catch near the sideline that gave the Jets a first down.  

Following the Raiders game, Mason did not do as well receptions-wise as he only had two receptions for 37 yards, and against New England, he was benched for most of the game and had one reception for 7 yards.

When you take Mason's production over the first few weeks of the season, trading him to the Texans was a poor move by the Jets. It makes it seem as if there is turmoil within the organization and that if there are any problems, the Jets will ship that player away.

This article is Part 1 of 2 in a series relating to the Derrick Mason trade, Jets Collapse and criticism of Brian Schottenheimer. Please check back for Part 2.