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Derek Cox said that he was caught off guard.
He shouldn't have been.
The Chargers cornerback confessed that he was "still trying to figure it out."
It's pretty self-explanatory.
Cox spent the final 25 minutes of Sunday's loss to the Redskins on the sideline, and a half hour after the game, said he hadn't heard from a coach as to why.
But the reason is simple: It was time.
All season long, Cox has looked like a shot putter chasing down sprinters. Even when the Chargers win, he ends up getting beat.
The latest receiver to blow by the 27-year-old for a massive gain was Washington's Pierre Garcon, who picked up 38 yards on a third-quarter catch that led to a Redskins touchdown. Cox, who was replaced by Johnny Patrick, didn't play another series all game.
If we were discussing any other cornerback for San Diego, this wouldn't be news. The Bolts may be weaker at that position than any team in the NFL.
But Cox was supposed to be the redeemer, the key offseason acquisition -- the stud who signed a four-year, $20 million deal last March after four solid seasons in Jacksonville.
He hasn't delivered, though. The Chargers' most expensive signing of 2013 has been way more than a dollar short.
In the season-opener, for example, Cox's head-scratching late retreat helped Houston convert on third and 18, which led to a Texans score in their come-from-three-touchdowns-behind win.
In Oakland last month, Rod Streater burned Cox for a 44-yard TD pass on the Raiders' first offensive snap of the game.
Against Indianapolis a week later, Cox gave up a 35-yard pass to Reggie Wayne on a flea flicker, and one quarter later, watched Darrius Heyward-Bey fly past him and drop a would-be touchdown pass.
So when Garcon became Cox's latest conqueror Sunday, the Chargers' coaches had seen enough.
It seemed the fans had, too.
"Courtney Cox would be a better cover corner than Derek Cox," tweeted one Bolts' die-hard.
"Derek Cox is a millionaire and I have no idea why," tweeted another.
Chargers coach Mike McCoy wouldn't comment on the reason for Cox's benching, saying only that "we made a decision to put someone else in. We'll do whatever we think is best to make the team win."
However, when a reporter asked whether Cox would start against Denver next week, McCoy refused to commit, saying "we'll talk about it as the week goes on."
That, in a sense, is incredible. Given the needs the Chargers had at the position, and the hype surrounding Cox's arrival in San Diego, him being a possible starter after eight games is mind-blowing.
Cox's countenance after the game made it clear that he was upset if not outright stunned. But his language remained upbeat, even if his body language did not.
Asked where he'll go from here, Cox answered "Up -- always up. I'm always moving forward."
Asked how he's adjusting to playing with the Chargers, something he admitted to struggling with at first, he replied "it's getting better and better. I'll keep growing and growing. It's all positive."
Cox also said that he was healthy and "not frustrated" with some of the big plays he's given up. And it may be worth nothing -- he has been benched before.
In 2010, Cox was demoted to second-string after starting all 16 games as a rookie the season before. The relegation only lasted a couple weeks, but he remembers it vividly.
In regards to this most recent sidelining, he said he is going to respond the same way his team should -- which is to get back on the practice field and work toward getting a win.
It's the right attitude to have. You gotta stay hungry in this league.
Lord knows Cox's opponents have. For the past few weeks, they've feasted on him.
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