Ryan says this time he'll make decision on Revis

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Rex Ryan learned his lesson, one that could've cost the Jets big time.

Ryan allowed Darrelle Revis to make the final call on whether he'd play in the Jets' 29-20 win over the Vikings Monday night, thinking it was a prudent thing to do because Revis was the one who truly knew how his left hamstring felt.

That won't be the way things go down this week. If Revis suits up and plays against the Broncos in Denver on Sunday, it will be because Ryan made the final call.

"It's going to be put on my shoulders," Ryan said Wednesday. "This is the way I like it. I'm usually more comfortable this way anyway. He is such a competitor, that quite honestly, he is going to play. He doesn't want to let the teammates down, this organization down."

Revis, who sat out the previous two games with a strained hamstring, experienced swelling and soreness while playing against the Vikings. The All-Pro clearly wasn't himself, especially late in the game. But Ryan believes it still wasn't a mistake to play him.

Revis wasn't able to go full tilt and was pushed down rather easily by Percy Harvin on the Vikings' penultimate drive of the game, one play before Dwight Lowery's game-sealing 26-yard interception return for a touchdown. Revis said he felt much better Wednesday, however, adding that the swelling had gone down.

He did only individual work on the side in practice, although he said he wanted to practice but the staff wouldn't let him. It's all about caution at this point and even Revis indicated it might be best if he sat out this week, which would give him nearly three weeks to heal. The Jets have a bye next week before hosting the Packers on Halloween.

"We're going into a bye, we're 4-1 right now," Revis said. "You can rest me and take this thing into the bye and then come back fresh for Green Bay."

"Ya'll know me," he added. "I want to play, but I've never been hurt during the season. I need to do the right thing. I just need to learn patience and make sure this thing is right."

Before making the final determination on whether Revis plays or stays - as in back home while everyone else makes the trip west - Ryan said he plans on speaking with defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman, team trainers and physicians, and of course Revis. He'll pour over all the information and render his decision.

"Really, any player moving forward, I'm going to try to take that responsibility on more," Ryan said. "So do I have all the answers? Absolutely not. Will this change? Maybe. But I think this is the best thing for us going forward. I think it will be the best thing for us."

As for his change in philosophy, Ryan now knows he can't leave it up to the player just because the competitive juices naturally make them want to play no matter what.

"It probably isn't real fair to put it in their hand," he said. "I've made a ton of mistakes before, and this may be another one. It's not like it was a mistake to play him . . . It's just the way that every other decision, a football decision, is made by me. With a lot of opinions and other things. I don't do anything individually, but I collect all the facts and then I make the decision.

"And why wouldn't I make this decision?"