Despite 1-8 record, Jets keeping spirits up
Jets head coach Rex Ryan looks on during a game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on Oct. 5, 2014 in San Diego. Credit: Getty Images / Stephen Dunn
Rex Ryan just couldn't resist.
Once he realized that Thursday's Jets practice would have to be held indoors because of rain, he quickly devised his own airshow stunt.
A day after a small plane flew over their facility towing a message calling for the firing of general manager John Idzik, Ryan took a toy helicopter that belonged to a staff member and affixed a "Go Jets'' banner to it.
The tiny aircraft was flown for a few minutes at the start of practice.
"The message,'' Ryan said, "is that we're in this together.''
His playful stunt was done in response to the bizarre scene at Wednesday's practice, which featured a Super Cub plane circling the facility for 20 minutes with a "Fire John Idzik'' banner billowing behind it.
Ryan knew Thursday's inclement weather meant one thing. "Well, they're not going to have anything out there today,'' he joked.
Ryan's original plan was foiled, however.
"We were going to buzz the tower a little bit,'' he said, laughing at his aviation joke about low-flying the helicopter near the media.
Say this about the Jets: They never take themselves too seriously. At 1-8, the players easily could have written off the season, but One Jets Drive feels like anything but a morgue. There is laughter and an abundance of positive vibes within their building. Wednesday's stunt only helped to foster a sense of community among the team.
"We all recognize, hey, we're 1-8 but we're in it together,'' Ryan said. " . . . It's not about pointing blame or anything else. We're all to blame.''
Idzik, who was spotted Thursday at an airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, told the New York Post "we'll get it straight,'' when pressed for comment.
So what was his reaction to Wednesday's plane prank? "What do you think I think?'' Idzik told the paper.
Ashley Chalmers, the pilot of the plane and owner of Jersey Shore Aerial Advertising, said the service was requested by a "frustrated'' female Jets fan, who did not want to be identified, for "less than $1,000.''
"It was pretty crazy,'' Quinton Coples said. "We saw a plane that said 'Fire John Idzik.' I don't know what to say about it. I've never seen it before, so it's a first for me.''
Said Calvin Pace: "That's New York City, man. It's a pressure-filled city. If you let it get to you, it can affect you.''
Although players were shocked to see the plane circling over practice, they said no one paid much attention to it.
"We have bigger things to worry about than what's flying overhead,'' said linebacker-special teamer Nick Bellore, adding that he and his teammates are confident they still can turn the season around.
" . . . As far as giving up, that doesn't even cross our minds. All of our livelihoods depend on us turning this thing around. And we owe it to Jets fans because we need to give them something to be proud of despite what happened this first half of the season.''
According to Ryan, his team is working extremely hard.
"As a Jet fan, that's one positive you can take out of it,'' he said. "At least you know your team's working their tails off to fix it.''
