NEW YORK - New York Jets running back Thomas Jones earlier this week told a local radio station that future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre should have been benched at some point during the season.

Jones told Hot 97 FM on Tuesday that Favre's mistakes hurt the Jets down the stretch.

New York lost four if its last five games, and the 39-year-old Favre tossed nine interceptions with just two touchdowns in that span. Favre finished with 22 touchdowns and a league-worst 22 interceptions, but still somehow made the Pro Bowl.

"We're a team and we win together. ... But at the same time, you can't turn the ball over and expect to win," Jones told the radio station two days after Favre tossed three interceptions in the season-ending loss to Miami.

The loss was even more painful because former Jet Chad Pennington outplayed Favre and helped the Dolphins clinched the AFC East. Jones, who led the AFC with 1,312 yards, said the turnovers were the difference in the 24-17 loss.

"The other day, the three interceptions really hurt us. I mean, that's just reality," Jones told the radio station. "If I were to sit here and say, 'Oh, man, it's OK,' that's not reality. ... I don't like it, I know everybody else on the team doesn't like it.

"If somebody is not playing well, they need to come out of the game," Jones told Hot 97 FM. "You're jeopardizing the whole team because you're having a bad day. To me, that's not fair to everybody else. You're not the only one on the team. So when you get to the wire and somebody is just giving the game up, I mean, it's just not (fair)."

Another anonymous Jets player told Newsday, "There was a lot of resentment in the room about him. He never socialized with us, never went to dinner with anyone."

The player said Favre was "distant" and spent most of his off-field time in an office designated for him near the equipment room and not with teammates in the locker room.

Favre won't need surgery for injury
Favre reportedly has a torn biceps tendon in his right arm that will not need major surgery to repair, ESPN said Tuesday.

The 39-year-old Favre routinely underthrew receivers and appeared to lose some velocity on his throws late in the season as the Jets went 1-4 down the stretch and failed to make the playoffs. ESPN, citing unnamed sources, reported that Favre would need arthroscopic surgery to repair the injury, but could also play without having an operation.

Favre’s agent, James “Bus” Cook, did not immediately respond to e-mail and phone messages left by The Associated Press seeking comment.

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After the Jets’ season-ending 24-17 loss to Miami on Sunday, Favre said he’s been feeling discomfort in his strong right arm “for quite a while.” He also complained of pain in the back of the shoulder, the biceps and sometimes in his neck.

Favre, who also reportedly has some calcification in the area of the injury, is expected to take several weeks to decide whether he will return to the Jets, ESPN reported.

The Jets are currently searching for a new head coach after firing Eric Mangini after three seasons on Monday. Favre’s performance down the stretch — two touchdowns and nine interceptions — was a major factor in the team’s collapse.

He finished with 22 touchdown passes, but also led the league with 22 interceptions.

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