NFL

Jets receivers deny complaining to Ryan about Schottenheimer

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Despite a published report that suggested otherwise, the Jets insisted yesterday they are a team in complete harmony.

According to the report, Jets receivers Derrick Mason, Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress all, at separate times in recent days, approached head coach Rex Ryan to complain about offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and his system.

Mason, in fact, appeared to be benched for nearly the first three quarters of yesterday’s 30-21 loss to the Patriots, replaced as the third receiver by rookie Jeremy Kerley.

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After the game, Mason, Burress and Holmes all vehemently denied complaining about Schottenheimer, ripping the report as fiction.

Even Ryan insisted he never was approached by the receivers, saying, “That’s Ripley’s to me. If it is [true], maybe I got hit in the head or something. I don’t remember that.”

Ryan’s explanation for Mason’s lessened playing time was a plan to get for action for Kerley, who yesterday caught three passes for 35 yards and a touchdown.

“We’ve been trying to get Kerley a few more shots,” Ryan said.

Mason called his diminished playing time and the report “coincidence” and categorically denied complaining to Ryan.

“OK, let me say this: I’ve been in this thing [the NFL] 15 years and I’ve never criticized the offensive coordinator to a head coach — never once,” Mason said. “I’ve got enough problems going on myself. I’m not going go add another to it. Whoever told you all that I wish you would tell me who it is so I can ask why they put my name in that mess. I can’t speak for Santonio or Plax, but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t do anything like that.

“I’m not part of it,” Mason said. “I come here and do what they ask me to do and play good football. I’ve always said the play-caller makes the play-calls and the players have got to make them work. If we make them work then they’re great play callers. If we don’t make them work then everyone wants to jump on the OC.”

Mason was cryptic when asked if he spoke to Ryan before the game and knew his role would be reduced yesterday.

“That’s something you’ve got to ask the coaches,” he said. “I’m not going to get into whether [he] and I talked or not. That’s something you’ve got to ask coach about.”

Burress said he thought the report was fabricated.

“Whoever wrote that story, they’re just making up stories to sell papers,” Burress said. “That never happened. Whoever wrote it is making up a story to make themselves look good. I’ve never went in to talk to Rex personally about anything.”

Holmes, who led the Jets with four catches for 60 yards and a touchdown, said, “I honestly have no idea where that came from or who could have said it, but me, personally, I have no issue with coach Schottenheimer, and I didn’t talk to Rex about anything.”

Holmes called the Jets offense “working in progress right now.”

“We’re still searching for it, but once we find it I think everything will work out in our favor,” he said.