Rex calls 'stupid' timeout his fault

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- It turns out that "the stupidest thing in NFL history" was Rex Ryan's fault.

At least that's how Ryan now is spinning the timeout that Mark Sanchez called with 1:24 left in the first half of the Jets' 37-16 loss to the Patriots on Sunday night.

Initially, Ryan was as stunned as anyone by the timeout, telling NBC's Michelle Tafoya at halftime that it was "the stupidest thing in NFL history."

Monday, however, Ryan said he was not calling his 25-year-old quarterback stupid.

"I was basically saying it about myself," Ryan said, "and when I talked about the emotion I was feeling that, obviously, because I know how difficult it is. You're facing a great team. They don't need any help and we just gave them huge help and they went down and scored a touchdown."

According to Ryan, what happened was a massive miscommunication. Ryan, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh were having a conversation over the headset about when to take a timeout. They concluded that it would be taken after more time had elapsed.

Sanchez, however, is connected only to Schottenheimer via headset, and he heard only part of the conversation -- the part about taking a timeout.

"I think that's what happened there," Ryan said. "You would have to ask Mark, but I think what we heard is, 'We are going to take a timeout.' "

Sanchez, who was not available for comment Monday, called timeout with about 18 seconds left on the play clock. He scored on a 2-yard quarterback draw on the next play but left 1:20 left on the clock. That was plenty of time for Tom Brady to lead the Patriots on an 80-yard touchdown drive that gave them a 13-9 lead nine seconds before halftime.

Said guard Matt Slauson, "After we scored and we saw how much time they had left, we were like, 'Oh, this isn't good.' "