Jets send Derrick Mason Packing

A week after Derrick Mason made headlines twice for ripping into his new team, the Jets have decided to part ways with the disgruntled wide receiver by shipping him to Houston for an undisclosed draft pick.

After New York's hideous 34-17 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens, Mason said that there were "cracks" in the Jets offensive scheme and that unless those "cracks" were filled, the problems would persist. Who knows if he was talking about Mark Sanchez or Brian Schottenheimer or both, but the implication was clearly there.

Then before the Jets-Patriots game, Mason, along with two other receivers whom many presume were Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress, complained to coach Rex Ryan about Brian Schottenheimer and the Jets offense.

Ryan, who loves Schottenheimer, decided to bench Mason on Sunday, has now booted him off the team. Mason was becoming a major distraction on this ball club, a club that is showing more and more each week that it is a team that can't take any criticism.

Over the past few weeks, Joe Namath has come out publicly criticizing Rex Ryan, Brian Schottenheimer, Santonio Holmes, Mark Sanchez and Mike Tannenbaum. As a result, the Jets response has been simply: "Who is Joe Namath?"

Ryan doesn't like guys who rock the boat. He said so in his book. He is a fellow who wants only people who are positive, and if any one individual comes across as a negative influence, they are thrown out; case in point, Mason.

Will ridding the team of Mason cure the Jets ills? I find that hard to believe, but, as the football Zen master says, "We'll see."