The New York Jets signed wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery to a multiyear contract extension on Thursday after catching 82 passes for 961 yards and six touchdowns this season. Cotchery, who was playing in his third season, formed a solid receiving duo with Laveranues Coles to lead the Jets to the postseason.

"This was the perfect time to get something done," stated Cotchery. "I didn't want to try to do anything during the season where you're thinking about tons of things. It allows me to continue to just focus on football."

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum was pleased to extend Cotchery's deal.

"Jerricho Cotchery is the type of player we are looking for here," said Tannenbaum. "He earned a starting role this year and showed the productivity and consistency we want at that position."

Cotchery was a fourth-round draft pick in 2004. He only had 25 catches during his first two seasons, but he caught the eye of Jets head coach Eric Mangini in training camp and won a starting receiving job.

"I wanted to stay with the Jets the entire time," Cotchery said. "This is the organization that drafted me and I wanted to be loyal to them. I wanted to finish my career here because I felt like the other teams, if they wanted me when I was coming out for the draft, they would've drafted me. This time around, they won't have a second chance to get me."

Pokorny's Take: Signing Cotchery to an extension was a wise move. With the tremendous potential that he showed last season, it is great news that the organization was able to lock up a young player as they try to improve upon their Wildcard Playoffs exit against the New England Patriots this past season. team for five seasons.