Rex has no 'Knocks' about not doing show

Amid reports that the Jets declined HBO's offer to be featured on "Hard Knocks" for a second time, Rex Ryan Saturday claimed ignorance -- and indifference.

"Whatever," said the uncharacteristically reticent coach. "I didn't even know. This is news to me, but it doesn't matter to me. We're just trying to get our team ready to play the 2012 season."

Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum spoke at MetLife Stadium, which hosted a 5K walk for the Alliance for Lupus Research. Jets owner Woody Johnson, who is the chairman of National Walk, was in attendance but didn't speak to the media.

In April, Johnson said the organization would consider the possibility of doing "Hard Knocks" in this summer's training camp.

The Jets turned down an offer to appear on the show in 2009 but accepted in 2010, preceding the team's second consecutive run to the AFC Championship Game. Tannenbaum suggested the Jets' participation in this year's show wouldn't have caused a distraction.

"Our experience was great and we went on to have a very good year," he said. "When you play pro football in New York, you're going to get attention. That's just the day and age we live in and the popularity of our sport. We want [players] that are focused on what they do. There's going to be a lot of attention on us regardless of what shows we're doing."

Ganaway vs. McKnight

Speculation will continue to swirl about the possibility of an eventual competition between Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow for starting quarterback, but the backup running back battle might be a training camp undercard.

With LaDainian Tomlinson gone, it was presumed that third-year back Joe McKnight would assume a greater role, but Ryan spoke effusively about sixth-round pick Terrance Ganaway.

"He's a guy that had a huge year at Baylor and he's a big back," Ryan said of the 5-11, 239-pound Ganaway, who ran for 1,547 yards and 21 touchdowns last year as a senior. "He's a guy that's maybe more in the Shonn Greene mold than the Joe McKnight mold, and I think that helps us."

Ryan also lauded Ganaway's smarts and versatility (he has experience at tailback and fullback) and said that despite his total of 12 receptions in college, "he's got good hands out of the backfield."

McKnight, who also was at MetLife Stadium Saturday, said, "I can't worry about who they bring in. I've got to handle my business and take care of what I can."

McKnight, whose strengths are agility and pass-catching, had only 134 yards (on 43 carries) and 13 receptions last season as the Jets' third running back.

"However many carries the coaches give me," he said, "I'll be ready for it."

McKnight, 24, who is noticeably heavier, said he's added 15 pounds of muscle during the offseason, bringing him to 215. "One of my main goals was to put on a little weight and be more durable," he said. "I was always kind of skinny, so I've been eating more."

He insisted the weight gain won't cost him any speed. "I've been training four days a week, lifting weights and doing conditioning,'' he said. "I'll be fine."

Obligatory Patriots comment

Darrelle Revis called Patriots coach Bill Belichick a "jerk" during a March appearance on ESPN and defended his remark last week. Asked about his cornerback's comments, Ryan, who has been known to needle the Patriots, said, "It just tells you how fierce the rivalry is."

"If we want to win our division, we have to beat them," Ryan said of the defending AFC champs. "It goes through New England . . . We're certainly not intimidated by them or anybody else."