Rex, Jets put 2011 in rearview mirror

Rex Ryan began his conference call with reporters with one simple message: “2011 is behind us,” he said.

After a disappointing 8-8 season -- one that was capped by three straight losses and well-documented fissures in the locker room -- the Jets head coach has his sights on a promising 2012. A season that, Ryan hopes, is drama-free and ends with a playoff run at the very least.

“When you don’t meet you expectations it kills you,” the coach said on the first day of voluntary team workouts. “...As talented as we were individually, we never got it done.”

Ryan discussed several topics today, including Tim Tebow (he reiterated Tebow is just the backup, but again pointed out the QB's tremendous upside), the Jets’ drafting of Vernon Gholston (“Every team’s made mistakes in the draft”) and the locker room turmoil that plagued his team last year (“We learned from 2011 and we’re focused on 2012”).

Ryan also called football “the ultimate team sport” and said he wants this year's Jets to be like “a brotherhood” or “a tribe.”

...As for the recent report about him not wanting to do “Hard Knocks” again, Ryan tried to sidestep the issue, refusing to corroborate or deny its accuracy.

“When we did “Hard Knocks,” it was excellent,” he said. “...I thought Hard Knocks was a good thing for us at that time.”

The head coach said he had nothing new to report on whether the Jets plan to sign on for another season, adding that he wouldn’t discuss “what ifs.”

“If we’re asked to do it, I’m sure we’ll have some candid conversations about it.”

He also said he has yet to talk to CB Darrelle Revis about a new contract, but added, "Those conversations would be private if they were to take place." 

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Despite his tight relationship with starting QB Mark Sanchez, Nick Mangold said he’s excited to see how the Tebow acquisition will bolster the team.

“If it’s going to help our team, I’m all for it,” the center said.

Mangold is convinced Tebow will “spice things up” if the backup's unique set of skills can be used in a “non-traditional backup quarterback” role. He also didn’t think Tebow’s arrival would have any impact on Sanchez’s state of mind. Competition is inherent in training camp, said Mangold, who cited the Jets’ signing of OL Chris Stewart this past season as an example.

As for the locker room turmoil that was exposed last season, Mangold said there was no need to hold team meetings today to clear the air. Those types of get-togethers are reserved for when “things are going downhill,” he said.

Said Mangold: “We're not bickering little school children. We’re able to understand things happen in the moment. This is not the 2011 Jets.”