Jets not panicking after blowout loss
(L-R) D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Wayne Hunter and Matt Slauson of the New York Jets look on dejceted late in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots. (Dec. 6, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Jerricho Cotchery is amazed by the shoveling that's been going on these last few days, somewhat amused by those who are throwing the Jets into a shallow grave and tossing dirt on them.
"We are 9-3," the wide receiver said Wednesday. "I haven't seen that since I've been with the Jets. So my friends, they can quit texting me, trying to lift me up. I don't need anything motivational right now. We are focused on the Dolphins right now. We've moved on from that game."
In an unconventional ceremonial way, too.
Rex Ryan wanted to do something symbolic Wednesday to get the Jets to forget about that 45-3 manhandling by the Patriots Monday night. So he dug into his bag of motivational tricks, pulling a page out of Bill Belichick's playbook.
Ryan led the players onto one of the outdoor practice fields, and placed a ball from Monday's game into a hole just behind one of the goalposts - similar to what Belichick did in 2001 after a 30-10 loss to the Dolphins.
"He said we're burying the game," Darrelle Revis said, "and we're moving forward."
Still, there are those on the outside who have pushed the panic alarm button. They point to the Jets' 1-3 record against teams with winning records and that they're coming off their most lopsided loss since a 45-3 defeat to the Dolphins in 1986. That's also the year the Jets started off 10-1, only to lose their last five games and barely make the playoffs before bowing out in the second round.
There's been talk the Jets could go belly up just like they did that season. Nick Mangold doesn't want to hear it.
"Let's see, I was two in 1986, so anything that happened then really has no bearing on what's going on now," the center said. "Obviously, it's a tough stumbling block that we went through Monday night, but don't lose the faith. You continue on and you keep fighting.
"So I don't see the need to go hit the fire alarm, panic and run away from a burning building."
In other words, the Jets aren't fazed by the backlash and the people skinning their knees jumping off the bandwagon.
"We don't play for the media, we don't play for the fans," Santonio Holmes said. "We play for our jobs and for one goal, which is to get to the Super Bowl. If anyone wants to talk negative or positive about us, it's not our place to feed back on it. It's our place to get out and perform the way we do when we practice well, when we go hard in the weight room, when we spend extra time in the film room . . . we want to put it all on the table come game day.''
The Jets believe they're still on track to accomplish the goals they've been striving for since the offseason, a point Ryan continues to drive home.
"It's funny because we have a quarter of the season left," he said. "To write us off might be a little premature. We had one loss. That's what it's based on. It's funny because Arizona was crushed by the Jets and New England [in 2008] and they made it all the way to the Super Bowl.
"If it wasn't for Santonio Holmes making that catch [for the Steelers], they would probably have a ring on their finger as Super Bowl champs. Your team can improve, stay the same or get worse. I think our team will improve."
