Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following Thursday's midday practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
David Harris did not practice. It's not injury related. It's nothing bad. All these players were limited: Marquice Cole, knee, Mike DeVito, knee, Santonio Holmes, hip — that's a new one. He'll be OK, though — Joe McKnight, shoulder/elbow, Eric Smith, knee. All these other guys were full: Plax [Plaxico Burress], illness — he's fine — Vlad Ducasse, knee, Shonn Greene, rib, shoulder, Jeremy Kerley is still on the team, so that was illness, he's back, he was full, Brandon Moore, hip, Ropati [Pitoitua], hand, [Mark] Sanchez, neck, and [Caleb] Schlauderaff, knee. So that's it.
On if he expects Harris to play…
Yes, he'll definitely play.
On if there is an update on McKnight's status for the game…
No, I think that one's going maybe be a game timer. He's still a little tender there.
On the status of Cole, DeVito and the other injured players…
I don't know about Cole, but DeVito is fine. Of all of them, Marquice would be the one I would think that's probably not looking too good.
On if Cole's injury is more serious than it was thought initially…
No, it's just sometimes they heal differently. Those speed guys almost have to be at 100%. Like a lineman, where's he going to go? But I think those speed guys, with the knee, it's probably harder to come back from.
On Victor Cruz calling out Darrelle Revis…
I'd call out a lot more guys — that list would be a lot longer before I would get to Revis. But you know what? That's good. That's a competitor. You want to face the best and you're certainly going to face the best when you face Darrelle Revis.
On the year Revis has had…
I think it's been an amazing season. It's easy to call out a guy. You know you're playing most of the game he has no help. I mean, zero help. That's OK, it's good background. But he really does. He almost has zero help a lot of times. I don't know if it's ever been done. I don't know if it's ever done. Has he given up a couple of completions? Yeah. And the funny thing is, we've talked before, I mean, we're surprised. It's like, "Oh, he gave up an 8-yard route. What is going on with Revis?"
These kids now that are playing receiver are talented guys in this league. That's why I always said if I ever went back to college even I'd get out of the ground and pound deal because it's a heck of a lot easier to recruit receivers than it is someone that can cover them, even though there's a shutdown corner in Summit, who made All-County Second Team. Just throwing it out there for all of you recruiters [joking].
On if Cruz's comments were more about calling out of Revis or trying to make a name for himself…
Those guys are pretty good receivers. I just think you want to compete against the very best, I'm sure, and that's the way I'm sure they feel as well.
On if he likes it when teams go after Revis…
OK, go ahead. You're exactly right. Of course you do. And the funny thing is you know it's a bad situation. You put your player in a bad situation, yet I still like my chances when it's Darrelle Revis.
On if he has funneled the defense away from Revis more so this season…
Yeah. Absolutely, I mean a ridiculous amount, but will it be that way this week? I don't know, but probably a pretty good chance. They know what's out there, we know what's out there. And they're going to take shots. Eli [Manning] throws a back shoulder fade as well as any quarterback in the league and that's really hard to stop, because if you're behind it he can throw it on top of you, if you're even with it or on top of it, he can throw it back shoulder. It's not easy, that's for sure.
On how the team's pass rush has been this season…
I think it's been OK. I think [Aaron] Maybin's really helped us in that pass rush. Do we look like Philadelphia or the Giants or whoever, some of the pass rushing teams? Maybe not. I still like the way we rush the passer.
On what his interactions with Giants fans are like and if it has been any different this week…
There is usually a shoving match or something [laughter]. I love the NFL, and I love the fact that the fans are passionate about their team. That's what you get. That's what great. We win, they win, it doesn't matter. There's still always going to be lifelong Giants fans and there is still going to be lifelong Jets fans. We're just trying to make up for that middle ground, some of these kids, try to make them Jets fans. You appreciate it. You love the fact that there is such great, passionate in roots that this is their team. It's like you're playing them and that's good.
On the funniest experience he's had with a Giants fan…
It happens all the time, but I love the fact that they look at you and they are like, "You know what, I'm a Giant fan," and things like that. They are proud of it and things like that. They say, "We're going to beat you." I'll say, "No, we're beating you guys." You're going right back at each other and things. It's all in good fun.
On what his initial reaction was when the schedule came out with this game coming in this week…
I think the big thing, a lot of us I'm sure, not just me, thought that the game was going to be the first one of the season. The fact that they put it there, "Wow, this game really could mean something." Well, it did. Both teams are fighting like crazy to get into the playoffs. Obviously, a loss in this game almost knocks one out, for the most part. Or maybe not. You guys know better than I do. I know nobody is thinking about it. Both teams are trying to win this game.
On looking to his star players to step up in big games like this…
I agree with you. It's funny because it's "Oh, that was a lucky play." Well, it's funny how the same guys are lucky it seems like. When you take Plaxico and you take Santonio [Holmes], those guys made the biggest plays on the biggest stage. So you feel great about that, there's no doubt.
I remember as the year was going on, even at the beginning, we're just thinking, "Hey, just think about these guys at the end of the season, how good they're going to be together." I think even though the numbers aren't supporting it, the number of catches, I think they have 16 touchdowns between the two. That's pretty good. But I feel great having those two guys.
On Sanchez not having a Super Bowl on his resume but both he and Eli Manning having late-game prowess…
I love having Mark in there. He's had, I think, over a two year period, if I'm not mistaken, I think he's had as many fourth quarter comebacks as anybody. I don't know, Eli has some record or something that he has in the fourth quarter, so I mean, both guys I'm sure would like to have the ball with a chance to win. I'm sure both offenses would like to have that opportunity.
On if he could see this game coming down to a field goal at the end of regulation…
I absolutely think it's going to be a 60 minute game and it's probably going to take all 60 to figure it out. I think that's definitely the kind of game it's going to be. This is going to be a hard-hitting game, even the preseason game, let's face it. When everybody thought that wasn't a good game, I was like, "Man, that was a great game." That was a knockdown, drag-out. Both teams smashing each other. That's what this game is going to be.
On what it would mean for him to guide the team to the playoffs for the third straight year…
That'd be huge. There's no question that would be a great accomplishment. I know how hard it is to get in the playoffs and I don't know how much leading I've done to get it there. But this organization, the coaches I have that coach with me, I think have done a great job of putting us in that position. We still have a lot of work to do to get there, but it would be a great accomplishment, there's no doubt.
On balancing a loose atmosphere and intensity for a big game…
Right, that's just the way we are. No matter how big the game is, it's still a game and it's meant to be played with fun, passion, and everything else. It is a little kids game, it is a billion dollar industry, but it's a little kids game and we're just bigger and older kids.
On Calvin Pace getting fined for a hit and how difficult it is to rush the passer with the new rules…
Well you have to lower your target, that's the number one thing. But a target can change. It can move, the helmet can come down and all that, but we're very mindful of it. Marcus Dixon, he led with his hands, certainly wasn't trying to hit him and all that kind of stuff. He purposely kept his head out of it and things, and yet it was still a roughing the passer call. It's tough. But you have to get to the quarterback, you have to hit the quarterback to win in this league. It's not that you're trying to maim the guy or anything else, but you are trying to hit him.
On if Pace should have been fined…
I'm not the expert there, I know the commissioner has a tough job and he always does what is in the best interest in the league.
On him not wanting to get fined…
Hey, how was that one? There's no way they can get me for that one.
On his confidence level in Wayne Hunter going against Jason Pierre-Paul or Justin Tuck…
Two great pass rushers, two big guys, long guys, they can both move. No matter who you have over there, Pierre-Paul normally is on the right side, I think that's where his game is and then Tuck is usually on the left. So it'll generally be Tuck, and we all remember what he did in the Super Bowl and all that kind of stuff. I thought he should have been the MVP of the game that day. It's going to be a tough matchup, but I like Wayne, I think Wayne can get it done, he's blocked some great pass rushers in the past, and this is going to be a big challenge, but I think he's up to it.
On how he will feel about the little brother-big brother relationship with the Giants and Tom Coughlin if the Jets win…
I have a good relationship with Coach Coughlin. I think there is a great deal of respect that I have, I know, for him. You'd have to ask him if he shares the same opinion, I don't know if he does, but I certainly have a great deal of respect and admiration for him.
