NFL

Jets surprisingly decide to cut Dixon

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum likes to call this weekend a “mini-draft.”

Two years ago, the team picked up defensive end Marcus Dixon. Yesterday, he was a victim as the team released him to clear a roster spot.

Dixon was the most surprising cut by the Jets as they tweaked their roster a day after trimming it to 53 players. They also claimed three players off waivers and began to shape their practice squad.

The 27-year-old Dixon was scheduled to make $540,000 this season, and that could have been a factor in the decision to let him go. He played in all 16 games last season, registering 16 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks.

The Jets picked up a defensive lineman off waivers — nose tackle Isakko Aaiuti, a project at nose tackle who spent last year on the Dolphins’ practice squad.

Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, who spent the past four years as head coach in Miami, definitely had some input in the team’s roster claims, as the team picked up two of his former Dolphins.

Besides Aaiuti, the Jets also were awarded speedy wide receiver Clyde Gates off waivers. Gates played in 15 games for Miami and caught two passes. He also returned kicks, with an average of 24.8 yards per return. He could be insurance for regular returner Joe McKnight, who is nursing a hamstring injury.

“Gates is an athlete, but the question is if he’s a football player,” a league source said. “He has very good speed, but he lacks route-running skills. He’s like [former Jet] David Clowney, but a little smoother.”

The final waiver pickup for the Jets was tight end Konrad Reuland from the 49ers. Reuland was a high school teammate of Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez in California.

Two players the Jets waived Friday were picked up by other teams. Running back Terrance Ganaway, a sixth-round pick of the Jets in April, joined the Rams, according to his Twitter account. Nose tackle Martin Tevaseu has joined the Colts, according to The Herald Bulletin in Anderson, Ind.

The Jets waived another of their draft picks, seventh-round safety Antonio Allen and have waived four of their eight draft picks from April this weekend. They also cut tight end Dedrick Epps.

There are three players known to have been added to the team’s practice squad — LB Ricky Sapp, TE Hayden Smith and CB Donnie Fletcher.

* According to a report in The Los Angeles Times, Jets running back Joe McKnight is alleged to have received improper perks, including a car and a plane ticket while he played at USC.