FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) -- Derrick Mason came to the New York Jets expecting to be a major contributor for what he hoped would be a Super Bowl run to cap a terrific career.
Instead, his role was diminished after just five weeks and the veteran wide receiver was sent packing to Houston when the Jets completed a trade with the Texans on Wednesday for an undisclosed conditional draft pick.
"Things didn't work out on the field with Derrick," Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said. "With that said, we were committed to trying to make it work and get him to play better on the field at a level that he was accustomed to and what we were expecting."
Mason acknowledged he was surprised by the deal, but expects to be a significant contributor for the Texans -- and resume his quest for a ring.
"I'm going to enjoy this run that we're going to go on," he said outside the Texans' locker room late Wednesday. "It's going to be a nice run. Hopefully, it'll end up in Indy. I'm looking forward to that."
ADVERTISEMENT
Tannenbaum said he received a call from the Texans on Tuesday inquiring about Mason's availability, and the teams agreed to a deal later that night -- a day after coach Rex Ryan said the wide receiver was "going to still be a part of what we do." If Houston hadn't called, Tannenbaum said, Mason would still be a member of the Jets.
"He would have been here for the balance of the season," Tannenbaum said. "He has a contract for next year. The fact that Rex knew him was one of the reasons we went after him."
