Jerricho Cotchery will consider Jets

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print

Former New York Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, an unrestricted free agent after one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, said Wednesday that he'd consider a return to the Jets.

"Yeah, I'm open to it," Cotchery told ESPNNewYork.com. "I'm open to all possibilities. I don't close doors. I'm not that type of dude."

Cotchery said two teams have expressed interest in him, but he declined to name them other than to say the Steelers want him back. The Jets have shown interest, according to the New York Daily News.

Meanwhile, instead of making a splash in the free-agent market, the Jets continued to focus on their own players, re-signing kicker Nick Folk Wednesday to an undisclosed contract.

This doesn't mean Folk is a lock to be the opening-day kicker, as the Jets plan to bring in competition.

"Glad to be back with (the Jets) and all my teammates," Folk tweeted. "This is going to be a fun and exciting year. Putting in lots of hard work to get ready."

Folk became the third player to re-sign in recent days. The Jets also retained linebacker Bryan Thomas and nose tackle Sione Pouha, both of whom were free agents.

Folk made only 76 percent of his field goals last season (19-for-25), tied for 26th in the NFL, but three of his six misses were from longer than 49 yards. He also had only 17 touchbacks, 14th in the AFC.

Cotchery requested his release last August, right around the time the Jets were courting Derrick Mason. A number of factors contributed to Cotchery's desire to leave: He felt unappreciated after the addition of Santonio Holmes and later, Plaxico Burress, and he wanted a contract extension.

After trying to trade Cotchery, the Jets finally gave him his wish -- and they got burned because his quiet leadership was sorely missed.

Cotchery, who turns 30 in June, didn't see a lot of playing time last season and finished with only 16 catches for 237 yards and two touchdowns, although he made a clutch touchdown grab in the playoffs.

From a schematic standpoint, Cotchery doesn't appear to be the best fit for the Jets. He's at his best in the slot, and they already have an emerging slot receiver in Jeremy Kerley. Cotchery could be a No. 4 receiver (Patrick Turner currently is penciled in there), but he doesn't play special teams and that hurts.

The Jets are looking for a starting-caliber receiver to play opposite Holmes. They're showing interest in Oakland Raiders receiver Chaz Schilens, but he has been a career backup. They also haven't ruled out the possibility of re-signing Braylon Edwards, according to a source.

Later Wednesday night,the Jets also released safety Gerald Alexander and waived wide receiver Michael Campbell.

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print
• Subscribe

Rich Cimini

ESPNNewYork.com

• Follow
• Archive

Rich Cimini, longtime Jets beat writer for the New York Daily News and a Syracuse graduate, covers Gang Green for ESPNNewYork.com.
Follow Rich on Twitter