Reports: Veteran Wide Receiver Derrick Mason Chooses Jets
By Jeff Capellini, CBSNewYork/WFAN.com
NEW YORK (WFAN) -- It appears the Jets have found their new slot receiver. According to reports, veteran Derrick Mason has decided to join Gang Green.
Mason, who will be entering his 15th season in the NFL, had reportedly narrowed his choices down to the Jets, his hometown Tennessee Titans and the Baltimore Ravens, the team in which he had spent the previous six seasons.
At 4 p.m. on Saturday Mason tweeted: "Jet fuel full time to fly!!!!" and "Going from one young gun to another!! Hahahahahaha." ESPN later confirmed that Mason had indeed agreed to a contract with the Jets. Terms of the deal were not immediately known.
"I'm looking forward to working under Rex and rejoining some familiar faces," Mason told ESPN.
By agreeing to terms with Mason, a player with 924 career receptions -- 12th all time, the Jets immediately put to bed concerns about the void left by the unexpected release of fan favorite Jerricho Cotchery. Mason now joins Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress in forming one of the most explosive wide receiver trios in the NFL.
The move was a must for New York, considering the dwindling talent left on the open market and its lack of internal options to fill the slot. Mason, 37, has made a living out of finding seams in opposing defenses and figures to be a featured target for third-year quarterback Mark Sanchez, especially on third down.
It was widely believed Mason was going to join the Jets late last week, but other potential suitors appeared to enter the fray, forcing him to take a few days to mull over his options with his family down in Nashville.
Mason, who is averaging 66 catches per season, will have to learn an entirely new offense in a short period of time, but throughout his career he's proven to be one of the more reliable players at his position. Mason is also an iron man of sorts, having missed just six games in his career and none since 2002.
Please stay with WFAN.com for more on this developing story.
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