The Jets’ Dimitri Patterson AWOL saga took an angry turn Monday when the team indefinitely suspended the veteran cornerback while promising more discipline to come.
Patterson did not show for the Jets’ preseason game last Friday against the Giants and was incommunicado for 48 hours before surfacing Sunday night and meeting with general manager John Idzik and coach Rex Ryan to explain himself.
The Jets didn’t like what they heard, because Idzik in turn made an unusual appearance during the team’s practice Monday to announce Patterson was suspended without pay and that the team still doesn’t understand his absence.
“It was good to finally speak with Dimitri and hear his side,” Idzik said. “He will be suspended indefinitely, which will give us a little time to gather more information about what led to his behavior.
“That way, we’ll feel like [an investigation means] we’ll make a very well-informed decision about what discipline will be forthcoming. And there will be discipline.”
The move appeared to be a painful one for the Jets, considering they were already shorthanded at cornerback due to a rash of injuries this preseason, not including Patterson’s various leg problems.
A league source described Patterson as surprised by the suspension and expects him to appeal it under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement if it becomes lengthy.
Idzik said Patterson’s suspension would likely be brief, but the CBA allows the Jets to ban Patterson without pay for conduct detrimental to the team for a maximum of four games, and fine him no more than one game check.
Patterson signed a one-year, $3 million contract including a $1 million signing bonus and another $1 million guaranteed. His base salary is $1.5 million, so one game check would be roughly $89,000.
Patterson apparently doesn’t understand what the acronym stands for, because he admits leaving without explanation but disputed to the NFL Network and USA Today on Monday that he was AWOL.
“There’s no need for concern,” Patterson told USA Today. “The reports about me going AWOL are totally false. I have my reason for missing those days. I’m not going to go into specifics, but I’ve discussed those reasons with the people I need to discuss them with. But as far as going AWOL, no, that’s totally false.”
Patterson, a journeyman who signed with the Jets in the offseason and has battled injuries throughout his first preseason with the team, added in a text message to ESPN the AWOL term was “comical” to him.
The use of AWOL have been comical to Patterson, but it was no laughing matter to the Jets.
Neither Idzik nor Ryan would divulge details of their meeting Sunday with Patterson at the team’s Florham Park facility set up by agent Drew Rosenhaus, but Idzik admitted the team remains perplexed aside from knowing Patterson’s absence wasn’t for medical reasons.
“Obviously, Dimitri felt he acted appropriately,” Idzik said. “To be honest, we’re still trying to understand all that went [into] it.”
Patterson’s teammates sounded confused, too.
“Dimitri is a great person,” fellow cornerback Darrin Walls said. “I never expected him not to show for a game. I’ve never known him to miss anything, so to not see him [show up for the Giants game] was kind of a shock.”
Michael Vick, who also played with Patterson as a member of the Eagles, said he didn’t know why Patterson walked but described himself as confident in a positive resolution.
“I’m saddened to hear about the situation going on right now,” Vick said. “But I’m pretty sure it’ll be worked out.”