Rex Ryan tries to ease the tension between Chaz Schilens, Antonio Cromartie

CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Rex Ryan has had enough of the Jets' reputation as a "rogue'' outfit and is determined to stay ahead of the locker-room tensions that helped ruin the 2011 season.

Latest example: In a team meeting Wednesday, the coach lectured players about being careful what they say, and how they say it.

"It happened over and over last year, and then it snowballs,'' Ryan said Thursday. "Whether people want to paint the Jets as this rogue team or whatever's out there, we want to win. We're as competitive as any team in this league. That's really our No. 1 thing.

"Do we want to have fun? Absolutely. Do I want our guys to be able to be ourselves? I do. But I also understand that maybe there are some deals that can hurt our football team instead of helping.''

Ryan was reacting to a public back-and-forth between cornerback Antonio Cromartie and receiver Chaz Schilens that began with Cromartie asserting on ESPN on Tuesday that he is the Jets' second-best receiver after Santonio Holmes. (The Jets plan to use Cromartie as a receiver in limited situations.)

When reporters asked Schilens on Wednesday about Cromartie's comments, Schilens clearly was irked and said, "I think it's a slight, I'm not going to lie. It's not something I would say. But I'm not him, I guess."

Ryan seemed to be as annoyed with Schilens for responding as he was with Cromartie for his initial comments. Asked if what Cromartie said might prove divisive, Ryan said, "No. I think everybody laughed about it except Chaz; that's the truth. And probably, it should have been like that.

"Chaz, you know, [Cromartie] is not the No. 2 receiver. How many balls has Cromartie got? How many routes has he run? Is he an unbelievable athlete? Yes. You know what, I was just shocked he didn't say he'd be the best receiver.''

Schilens, who spent his first four seasons with the Raiders, was surprised by the magnitude of the story, which landed on the back pages of two New York tabloids. "I've never really seen anything like this,'' he said. "It was a little bit different in Oakland, to say the least.''

Schilens, whose previous camp claim to fame was that he is Tim Tebow's roommate, said he came away from the episode with a "teachable moment.''

"I was probably a little agitated," he said. "I probably said some stuff I shouldn't have. Everything is taken care of. No problems with Cro."

Schilens said he discussed the matter with Cromartie and came away thinking "maybe I didn't quite understand what was said and something was lost in the communication. It's a good day, though. Antonio Cromartie is a hell of an athlete and he could play receiver if he wanted to."

Cromartie declined to speak to reporters.

Ryan echoed Schilens' allusion to a misunderstanding when he told players his words often have been reported without complete context. He used the example of his assertion earlier in camp that he is the best defensive coach in football. He said most journalists left out the part about how much he owes to his assistants and players.

"I'm not putting muzzles on them,'' Ryan said. "I just want it to be out there that, here's a fact: I say something and then they put a period after it.''

Said Schilens: "I understand. I'll do what's best for the team, and right now it's all about a positive image for the team and how we can present ourselves to you guys hopefully for the entire season."