NEW YORK (AP) – Dimitri Patterson disputes the New York Jets’ version of his mysterious absence.
The suspended cornerback said in a statement to ESPN on Thursday that the Jets’ claims that he went missing for 48 hours without notifying the team are “completely false.”
Patterson was suspended Tuesday for the rest of the preseason after he left the team, according to the Jets, and went missing last Friday night before the preseason game against the Giants without speaking to anyone in the organization.
Patterson was at meetings, a walkthrough and the pregame meal last Friday, but didn’t show for the game later that night at MetLife Stadium. General manager John Idzik said earlier this week that Patterson gave the Jets no warning he would leave the team, and didn’t speak to anyone directly until he met with Idzik and coach Rex Ryan on Sunday night at the training facility.
Idzik also said at that time that he learned Patterson was OK only on Saturday through agent Drew Rosenhaus.