NFL

Jets release veteran receiver Cotchery

NOT READY YET: Plaxico Burress, wearing his No. 17 uniform, watches practice from the sidelines yesterday at the Jets’ practice facility in Florham Park, N.J. The receiver “tweaked” his left ankle Wednesday and is expected to miss 1-2 days. Jeff Zelevansky

The Jets and longtime wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery said goodbye yesterday, but the reasons are as hard to decipher as coach Rex Ryan’s tattoo.

The team said Cotchery asked to be released, which the Jets did late yesterday afternoon. Cotchery, speaking a few hours before the release, said he had been told he would be released if the team signed Derrick Mason, who was visiting the Jets and was undergoing a physical.

The Jets still are believed to be ready to sign Mason, but announced nothing last night.

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After the team released Cotchery, Ryan told reporters that Cotchery wanted out. He said Mason was not the reason Cotchery was released.

“He asked for a trade or to be released and that’s what happened,” Ryan said. “It was tough. You hate to see good people leave your building.”

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum did not respond to a request for comment.

When reached by The Post, Cotchery’s wife, Mercedes, said her husband did not want to get into a back and forth with the team.

It had been reported by the NFL Network earlier this week the Jets were shopping Cotchery around, but Ryan said the team had no intention of getting rid of the receiver until he asked. Both Ryan and quarterback Mark Sanchez said they tried to talk Cotchery into changing his mind.

Cotchery played the last two seasons with a herniated disk in his back. He had offseason surgery and said he is healthy. The team has not let him practice, though, putting him on the physically unable to perform list.

“I loved being a Jet,” Cotchery said before the team made his release official. “The main thing right now is I’m just focusing on moving forward. For me, I’m healthy and I’m ready to play football. Sometimes things don’t work out the way you want to work out.

“Everyone wants that dream scenario where they play their entire career with one team but it doesn’t happen that often.”

The 29-year-old Cotchery was a starting receiver from 2006-09 but was bumped to third-receiver status last year when the Jets acquired Santonio Holmes. He had 41 catches for 433 yards and two touchdowns last season, and made one of the most memorable plays of the year with an overtime catch after tearing his groin. This year, the Jets re-signed Holmes and signed free agent Plaxico Burress.

Cotchery was one of the most popular Jets with the fans and one of the most respected Jets in his locker room.

“He’s the ultimate teammate, he’s the ultimate competitor and that’s why it hurts to see him leave,” Sanchez said. “It’s really too bad.”

Cornerback Darrelle Revis said Cotchery “means the world to this organization from my eyes.”

“From me coming in as a rookie and seeing him, seeing how he has improved every year to being one of the top receivers in this league,” Revis said. “He doesn’t probably have the numbers of the top receivers in this league but he’s done a lot, done a lot for this organization. He has a clean record. He’s not out here getting in trouble.”

brian.costello@nypost.com