NEW YORK — Derrick Mason is reuniting with coach Rex Ryan, this time with the Jets as the former Ravens wide receiver announced Saturday that he is signing with New York, giving the AFC team’s receiving corps a big boost.
Mason announced the decision in a statement and added that he’s “looking forward to working under Rex and rejoining some familiar faces.”
After choosing the Jets over the Ravens and Titans, Mason wrote on his Twitter page: “Jet fuel is full time to fly!!!!”
Terms of the contract weren’t immediately available, and the Jets had yet to make an announcement regarding Mason.
Mason, 37, fills the void created when the Jets granted Jerricho Cotchery’s request to be released. Mason knows Ryan from their days with the Ravens when Ryan was the defensive coordinator.
Mason caught 61 passes for 802 yards and seven touchdowns last season but was cut by the Ravens on July 28. He has 924 catches — 12th-most in NFL history — for 11,891 yards and 66 touchdowns in a consistently productive career. He is the Ravens’ career leader in receptions and yards receiving.
Titans’ Finnegan leaves camp
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — General manager Mike Reinfeldt said the Titans were totally 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, apparently 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 didn’t report Saturday to a special-teams meeting.
Bad back slowing Garrard
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback David Garrard has dealt with lower back pain before. His latest bout has him sidelined indefinitely.
Garrard’s sore back kept him out of Jacksonville’s scrimmage, allowing more repetitions for first- round draft pick Blaine Gabbert and third-stringer Luke McCown.
Garrard’s back tightened up during practice Thursday night. He limped off the field and hasn’t done much since. Tests revealed no damage, and coach Jack Del Rio is calling him “day to day.”
Garrard passed for 2,734 yards and 23 touchdowns last season.
Footnotes.
Bears players, including linebacker Brian Urlacher, are calling for the team to ask the Chicago Park District to change to an artificial playing surface someday after practice was canceled at Soldier Field because of poor field conditions. “It’s a joke,” Urlacher said about the Soldier Field grass.
• Free-agent tight end Kevin Boss signed a $16 million, four- year contract with the Raiders late Friday night.
Also, restricted free-agent running back Michael Bush re-signed with the Raiders.
• Cornerback Prince Amukamara, the Giants’ first-round draft pick, is out indefinitely with a fractured bone in his left foot.
• Veteran defensive end Dave Tollefson rejoined the Giants.
• Offensive lineman Adam Goldberg, who started all 16 games last season, agreed to a contract with the Rams. The Associated Press
