New York Local News

HEMPSTEAD (AP) ― The toughest game of Jerricho Cotchery's season was the one in which he didn't play.

While his Jets teammates were down in Miami beating the winless Dolphins two weeks ago, New York's leading receiver was sitting at home with an injured finger and anxiously watching on TV.

"I'm in my fourth season and you're just built to where you're out there every Sunday and at the end of the week, the energy is so high and the adrenaline is pumping everywhere," Cotchery said Friday. "Just to have to sit there and not have anything to do with all that energy and adrenaline, it was just crazy."

With the anxiety and restlessness getting the better of him, Cotchery made a necessary halftime adjustment.

"I got one of the trainers to make me a mouthpiece," he said with a big laugh. "So after halftime, I threw in my mouthpiece and I was just sitting there playing around and watching the game because I had a bunch of energy and I was just trying to do something with it."

He got a chance to let loose last Sunday against Cleveland, when he caught six passes for 119 yards in the Jets' 24-18 loss. The numbers were even more impressive considering Cotchery was listed as doubtful before the game and wore a splint on his right index finger, which was reportedly broken in practice Nov. 26.

"It was fun to be able to get back out there," he said. "It was tough watching it on television. They're down there in the sun, doing a great job out there and I'm up here looking out the window at the snow. After the game, I texted a number of guys and told them, `Great job,' and they said, `We missed you.' It just puts a lot of things in perspective when you're injured. You have to take advantage of every opportunity and just try to make it your best."

Cotchery has formed quite a tough tandem with Laveranues Coles, who was selected as the team's Ed Block Courage Award winner Friday after dealing with a concussion and a high ankle sprain this season.

"It's inspiring as a teammate to see a guy just go out there and lay it on the line for us," Cotchery said. "A lot of guys would've already shut it down, especially with the season that we're having. It just shows that he loves his teammates and he loves to compete."

He can certainly relate. Cotchery, who leads the Jets with 60 receptions for 849 yards and one touchdown, was listed as questionable for Sunday's game at New England, but there's little doubt he'll play -- especially after his performance last weekend.

Plus, Cotchery has shown a propensity for coming up big against the AFC East rivals. He has had six catches in each of the last three regular-season meetings, and had four receptions for 100 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown, in the playoff game last season at Foxborough.

The weather is expected to be wicked Sunday, with a wintry mix that could make things awfully slippery. Cotchery, who got in some practice time in the sleet and slush that covered New York on Thursday, isn't concerned about possibly further injuring his finger.

"Not at all," he said, shaking his head. "If you have any doubts, you shouldn't even be playing. I feel comfortable with everything. I don't care about falling or anything like that. Once I'm on the field, man, nothing else matters."

Cotchery isn't sure if he'll have to wear the protective splint on his finger for the rest of the season, saying it's something he and the trainers will evaluate each day.

"Sometimes you have to adapt to certain things in football," he said. "I'll be OK."

When asked if the injury might require a procedure in the offseason to repair, Cotchery looked down at his hands -- both with black and white receiving gloves on -- and shook his head.

"I think it should be fine," he said assuredly. Cotchery didn't practice for over a week before the game against the Browns, but stayed sharp mentally even during the week before New York's game at Miami by studying the game plan. He got back in the groove immediately last Sunday with a 12-yard catch on the Jets' second play from scrimmage that was met with a loud cheer from the fans at the Meadowlands. He followed it up with a 22-yarder on the next play.

"You can go through all the scenarios of what could happen, but we don't tackle in practice," he said. "I love contact anyway, but when you get that first catch and that first tackle on the same play, it was like, `Boom! I'm ready to go now."'

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