It’s Time for a Reunion with the New York Jets and Jerricho Cotchery

Dec 8, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver

(89) runs after a pass reception as Miami Dolphins defensive end

(50) pursues during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Dolphins won 34-28. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Remember this guy, Jets fans?

We all know what the Jets need to upgrade the offense. They need weapons. Weapons on the outside, weapons down the middle, weapons that can catch…etc. We have talked about new guys to bring in, like Eric Decker and James Jones. Potential draft picks such as Marqise Lee and Eric Ebron have been talked about as well. But I got to thinking….

Why not a reunion with an old friend? Enter Jerricho Cotchery.

Let’s face it, nobody was thrilled when he bolted to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In one sense, you can understand it from Jerricho’s point of view. Although the team had just gone to its second straight AFC Championship game, his catches were way down. He wanted more inclusion in the offense, and it wasn’t going to come, as the balls were headed more towards Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes. So, he signed with Pittsburgh.

He may be 31 years old, but Cotchery has a lot of football left. Last season with Pittsburgh, he set a career high, scoring ten touchdowns. He added a lot to the Pittsburgh offense, like he did back in his time with New York.

If called upon to be a number one wide receiver, Jerricho Cotchery can get it done. We know this because he did it before. From 2006-2008, he posted the following catch totals: 82, 82, and 71. He can put up the numbers, and he doesn’t drop passes. Jerricho is one of the most reliable receivers the Jets have had in many years. He would be a perfect complement on the outside, and one that Geno Smith would learn to count on.

Not only was he a fan favorite, and he WAS a fan favorite, but Jerricho was a team favorite in the locker room as well. After he was gone, it was noted by more than one player in that room that Jerricho’s leadership was gone. He left a void in that room, that just happens to coincide with the three years that the Jets haven’t made the playoffs.

By the way, did anyone else notice that we hadn’t heard about any problems in the Jets’ locker room until AFTER Jerricho was gone? I don’t know about you but I sure did.

Jerricho Cotchery was a terrific New York Jets wide receiver. He made the locker room more cohesive before, and he could serve both roles again.

John Idzik, schedule the reunion, please. You won’t be disappointed.