Opening Through The Mouth
Rex Ryan's revenge trade helps the Texans: Jets' problem child wide receiverprovides Andre Johnson insurance
Derrick Mason
Jacoby JonesPhoto by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Andre JohnsonPhoto by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Derrick Mason talked himself out of New York and a Jets world where apparently, only head coach Rex Ryan is allowed to say stupid things. But Mason's mouth could bring sweet sounds to the Houston Texans.
It's what allowed Texans general manager Rick Smith to trade a conditional draft pick Tuesday night for the veteran wide receiver — the same guy that Ryan predicted would catch 90 to 100 balls for the Jets this season — when he needed one most. With lifeline all-pro wideout Andre Johnson out for two weeks to a month (on the optimistic side) and Jacoby Jones anything but distinguishing himself in his first try at playing Johnson's role (one measly catch in Sunday's loss to the Raiders despite being targeted 11 times), Houston has a wideout problem.
Enter Mason, a 37-year-old out of Michigan State who's racked up more than 12,000 yards and 67 touchdowns in his NFL career. There are plenty of questions about how much Mason has left. He only had 13 catches for 115 yards in five games with the Jets this season.
Still for Smith and the Texans', it's more than worth the risk of a conditional pick.
If Mason hadn't gone off on the disappointing Jets' offense after a humiliating loss to his old team (the Baltimore Ravens) in Week Four, he'd probably never have been available for Houston to grab. Mason talked about the Jets' offense having obvious "cracks", which many took as a swipe at New York's embattled offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, a Ryan buddy. Mason also railed against all the turnovers the Jets committed against the Ravens, with that falling on quarterback Mark Sanchez, a golden boy in the Jets' world.
Not surprisingly, Ryan chose his hand-picked offensive coordinator and his hand-picked, mega-dollar quarterback over a wide receiver near the very end of his career.
Now the question is: Will it end up helping the Texans?
Mason is no Andre Johnson. Never was. Few wide receivers on the planet are on that level. Mason's not the player he used to be either. Kevin Walter — the Texans' third wideout — is likely a more dangerous weapon than Mason at this point. Tight end Owen Daniels clearly is.
But maybe Mason gives Texans quarterback Matt Schaub a pair of sure hands to turn to in a complimentary role. Mason isn't going to break big plays, but he has the ability to keep a drive alive.
In a twist of fate, Mason will get to play his old team, the Ravens, yet again this weekend. The Texans play at Baltimore, a Super-Bowl contender, on Sunday.
