Rex agrees with Scott: Jets must improve
Jets head coach Rex Ryan stands on the sidelines during a game against the Buffalo Bills. (Nov. 27, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Rex Ryan did not take issue on Friday with linebacker Bart Scott's comments that the Jets are not "a Super Bowl team right now, or even a playoff team."
At 8-5, the Jets technically are a playoff team as they hold the AFC's final wild-card spot. But Ryan said he understands where Scott was coming from.
"That's been our whole thing," Ryan said. "We know we have to improve as a team in all phases. And we challenged our team that way. That's the mentality, we've got to keep getting better. You can't stay the same or anything else. We have to get better. So that's our mentality, that's our mind-set. Do I think we're a playoff team? I absolutely do, but we have work to do."
Ryan also agreed with an observation that the Jets have been less chatty than usual about how good they are.
"I would say it's fair to say, but we were 9-2 at one time last year," Ryan said. "It's pretty obvious you're going to be in the playoffs. Right now, we're fighting for our playoff lives. We have to get in the playoffs before we can talk Super Bowl. Then we will."
Extra pointsCornerback Marquice Cole (knee) is out for Sunday. All of the other Jets listed on the injury report, most notably defensive lineman Mike DeVito (knee) and offensive lineman Brandon Moore (hip), are probable and are expected to play . . . For the Eagles, WR Jeremy Maclin (hamstring, shoulder) and backup quarterback Vince Young (ankle) are listed as questionable. But Maclin told Philadelphia-area reporters that he is "good to go." . . . Maclin on what the Eagles are playing for: "We're playing for the name across our chests and the names on our backs. I think that's the message that you have to deliver to everybody. If you take a man's pride, you take everything he has.''
