Glauber: Players love the way Ryan talks
Jets coach Rex Ryan talks to his players during the fourth quarter against Detroit. (Nov. 7, 2010) Credit: AP
FLORHAM PARK, N.J.
Jets coach Rex Ryan created a stir this week when he said of Patriots coach Bill Belichick: "As much as I respect and admire Bill Belichick, I came here to kick his ass, and that's the truth. That's just the way it is."
But as shocking a quote as that may be for one NFL coach to say publicly to another, it's tame compared to some of the other things Ryan has told his players over the years.
"Trust me, I've heard him say things that if you knew, you'd say, 'Wow,' " said defensive lineman Trevor Pryce, who played in Baltimore when Ryan was the Ravens' defensive coordinator. "What he said is subdued and small compared to what he used to say. You think Belichick doesn't know this already? It's no secret there's no love lost."
Linebacker Bart Scott, who also played under Ryan in Baltimore, goes a step further.
"He's actually calmed down a lot," Scott said. "He's matured."
In a word: What?!
"This is nothing new for me," Scott said. "You guys are all juiced up about it, but this is all I know. Being super-generic and all that stuff and not being yourself, that's what's crazy to me. That would be hard for me, hard to live a lie."
And there you have it. An NFL coach being that forthright in public about wanting to kick another coach's butt, and that's an indication that he has matured? Whoa!
Scott chimed in with his own smack talk about the Patriots, suggesting that their three Super Bowl titles since 2001 mean nothing when it comes to Monday night's game in Foxborough between the 9-2 Jets and 9-2 New England.
"Just because he won three [Super Bowls] doesn't automatically give him four," Scott said. "If you're as great as you say you are or as great as other people say you are, then prove it to me.
"I don't care what you did against the last team or the next person, or even what you did to me the day before. You have to prove to me every day who you say you are, because I'm going to try and do the same."
Wide receiver Braylon Edwards sounds a similarly defiant tone when it comes to not giving in to the Patriots' reputation.
"At the end of the day, you've got to prove it to me," Edwards said. "It's like Missouri is the 'Show Me' state. You've got to show me. That's Rex's attitude and we support that. You have to show us why you're the New England Patriots and everybody's touting you guys as the best team of the decade."
No fear from Antonio Cromartie either, only respect and admiration for his coach's swagger.
"Rex is a fiery coach, and we love it about him,'' he said. "Our team is a fiery team, and we want to play football the way we know how. That's to be physical and dominate."
Big game? None bigger for the Jets in the regular season in the Ryan era.
"We don't care who we're playing," Scott said. "If we were playing Morristown High this week, it would be just as important. It ain't about who we're playing, it's about what it represents if we win."
And if the Jets win, it gives them a decided advantage in the AFC East race. A one-game lead on the Patriots and a season sweep with four to play, and the Jets like their chances.
Regardless of the outcome, though, they love their coach and what he says.
"We know Rex has our back 100 percent, and when he makes comments like 'I want to kick his ass,' you're right there with him,'' tight end Dustin Keller said. "We feel the exact same way. Nobody wants to come out and say it, but to have a coach come and say that, it makes everyone that much more confident in their true feelings."
Keller's not ready to guarantee a win Monday night . . . but he comes awfully close.
"We truly believe that our best game will beat their best game," Keller said. "We just execute our plays the way we're supposed to, no way we shouldn't win this game."
For the swashbuckling coach and his merry band of followers, this game can't get here soon enough.
