Dimitri Patterson suspended by Jets after going AWOL

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The Jets have suspended Dimitri Patterson "indefinitely" while they sort through the story behind his unexcused two-day absence from the team.

General manager John Idzik did not divulge many details and referred to it as a "brief" but indefinite suspension. "That'll give us a little time to gather more information around what led to his behavior," Idzik said. "And I think that way, we'll feel like we'll make a very informed decision what discipline will be forthcoming.

"And there will be discipline involved."

A team source told Newsday yesterday that the 31-year-old cornerback "feels like he should be starting.

"Which is weird," the source added, "because he's been hurt all camp."

Patterson has been slowed by quadriceps, calf and foot injuries and didn't play in the second preseason game against the Bengals. And, according to Rex Ryan, the cornerback would have been a game-time decision Friday night vs. the Giants -- had he shown up.

Idzik alerted reporters about Patterson's extended absence on a conference call Sunday afternoon. He said the cornerback had attended meetings, walk-through practice and the team meal Friday, but was a no-show for the game at MetLife Stadium. After two days of no communication with the team, Patterson reached out to Idzik through his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, to say he would return to the facility Sunday night.

Both Ryan and Idzik said their conversation with the cornerback will remain private, but Ryan noted "it's a serious situation.

"It's safe to say I've never been in a situation where a player has not shown up for a game," the coach said, adding that he's relieved Patterson is physically OK.

Patterson -- on his seventh team in 10 years -- signed as a free agent this offseason and is due to make $3 million, including a $1-million signing bonus.

Asked if he questions whether Patterson is 100 percent committed to the organization, Idzik replied: "That's what we're going to try to decipher."

Cornerback Darrin Walls called Patterson "a great person. I've never known him to miss anything. He's always on time; he's always present for everything else. So to not see him was kind of a shock."

But that trust may already have been broken in the locker room.

"It just kind of shows you that, for whatever reason, he doesn't care that much -- at least to come to the game and show guys that you're there for them," slot receiver Jeremy Kerley told Newsday.

Patterson was not in Florham Park on Monday, but he reportedly sent a text message to an ESPN television reporter saying: "Yes, I'm OK and I'm not going AWOL either. Comical."

Idzik declined to say whether Patterson's "unexcused absence" was for an emergency. "Obviously, Dimitri felt he acted appropriately. But until we discussed it last night, you don't understand," he said. "And to be honest, we're still trying to understand all that went behind it."