The Jets addressed their combustible chemistry by getting rid of one of the ingredients last night.
The team reached an agreement in principle to trade wide receiver Derrick Mason to the Texans for a conditional seventh-round draft pick, according to two league sources. The move comes two days after Mason sat on the bench for most of the Jets’ 30-21 loss to the Patriots.
Sources said the Jets were upset with Mason’s failure to learn the playbook and have decided to go with rookie Jeremy Kerley as the No. 3 receiver. A source said Mason had been flying home to Nashville every Monday and Tuesday with the team’s permission, but that contributed to his difficulty learning the offense.
Mason joined the team just two months ago, signing a two-year deal after the team released veteran receiver Jerricho Cotchery. The 37-year-old receiver and Jets coach Rex Ryan knew each other well from their days together with the Ravens, and both spoke highly of the other. Ryan even predicted Mason would catch 90-to-100 passes this season. But Mason never seemed to click with the Jets, and finished with just 13 catches for 115 yards in five games.
After last week’s 34-17 loss to the Ravens, Mason was one of the most vocal Jets about the team’s problems.
“Somebody has got to man up and say, ‘Hey we’ve got to get this done,’ ” Mason said. “You saw it, there are some cracks, and nobody really wants to identify the crack. Until we identify the cracks, we’re going to keep having the same problems. Whenever somebody wants to fill up the cracks, then we can continue to move forward.”
Ryan said those comments had no bearing on Mason’s playing time Sunday, but it could not have helped his standing with the organization. Mason was much less chatty after Sunday’s 30-21 loss in New England when asked about his reduced playing time.
“That’s something you’ve got to ask the coaches,” Mason said. “I’m not going to get into whether [Ryan] and I talked or not. That’s something you’ve got to ask Coach about.”
Mason was also named in a published report that said the Jets’ wide receivers complained about the offense to Ryan. Everyone associated with the team has denied the report.
During his press conference Monday, Ryan was asked if he were happy with Mason.
“Well, guys, let’s face it. I thought Derrick would catch 80 to 90 balls,” Ryan said. “That hasn’t happened. I think we were going to be more three wides, but in that particular plan we tightened it up a little bit.”
Ryan gave no indication the team was planning to ship Mason out.
“Derrick’s going to still be a part of what we do, I just thought we can do some things with Kerley,” Ryan said. “I think we’re excited [with] the way he’s out there on the practice field and we’ll see going forward.”
brian.costello@nypost.com