Transcript of Jets head coach Rex Ryan's Tuesday late-morning news conference:
On Brett Favre…
Favre's on a plane to Minnesota is what I heard. It will be great. He's a great player, great competitor, so it's going to be interesting. I think they open up against Cleveland too so I wish them well except in that first game. I don't want him to torture my brother [laughter].
On when Darrelle Revis will play again…
I hope he's back there Monday night. I'm not sure. He's feeling better. It was a hamstring. It wasn't a pull. It's just something that we're trying to be cautious over. He felt it grab on him a little bit, so we're just being more cautious than anything else. But, it was not a pull.
On Revis and Kris Jenkins participating in practice initially and then being pulled out…
We weren't going to put them in any team drills or anything like that. It's progressing along slowly, but it is progressing with Kris. I think he'd rather get out there on the practice field than face the punishment from [head strength] Sal [Alosi]. I think that's the way all of them feel, but Sal's going to get them back and get them healthy. So, that's good, but it was good to see Revis out there too in individual.
On Mark Sanchez not being as sharp yesterday…
I don't think he was as sharp yesterday. I never thought Kellen [Clemens] was either. But I thought that both of them responded well today. I think both of them had good days today. I know Sanchez threw a couple of deep ones. I did say that one of them took a lot of 'Mississippis' to get down there [laughter]. He threw it in there. I said, 'You did that because everybody will report that Sanchez throws 80-yard touchdown passes.' I think that both of them are doing well.
On young wide receivers stepping up…
[David] Clowney stepped up big time in that game. I think that was huge. We all know he can do it. He's got that blazing speed. It wasn't necessarily a surprise. You guys saw that last year. He led the NFL in yardage last year in the preseason. Unfortunately, he had the collarbone [injury] so we all know he can do it. But, it was good for me to see with my own eyes also. That was impressive. He really was. I thought Brad [Smith] had some moments. We saw him on that reverse. He made a nice catch in a crowd so that was good to see. The kid [Aundrae Allison] that we picked up from Minnesota, I always call him '88 and out the gate.' He can fly. I'm just waiting for them to throw him a ball over there. I'm like, 'you know he's open? 88 is open again.' So, I'm just waiting for our quarterbacks to realize that. We'll see what he can do. He's been impressive a little bit too.
On moving training camp to Cortland, NY…
I was never at Hofstra, so I can't really [compare the two]. I know the one experience I had was outstanding there, but this has been great. This has been better than I thought. I thought it would go smoothly, but this really has gone smoothly. You'd like to have another grass field, an ideal situation, but wow the people have been great to us. The facilities are top-notch for a training camp — the meeting rooms, everything, the cafeteria. It's been a great setting.
On if he received a call from Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome or head coach John Harbaugh about his comments Monday…
No. They just know. I get carried away. I watched their one game just to see them and have an idea. I watched both sides of the ball. I will say this. The first-round pick [Michael Oher], he jumped off the tape. That guy is a good one. We had him ranked, I think, as our top lineman coming out and wow he looks good. They're doing a lot of crack toss and stuff like that with this kid leading. I think he has a chance to be a great one. Another Ozzie Newsome find there.
But, the second-round pick [Paul Kruger] wearing No. 99, it was more of a shock to my system because I just know what Michael McCrary meant to that organization and what he meant to me. I shouldn't speak about somebody else's football team, and that's not my team, but that's my player. I guess that's why I said what I said.
On if there was an arrangement that no player would wear No. 99 while he was at Baltimore…
Maybe [laughter]. I just think the guy epitomized what we wanted. He was what we wanted. I wouldn't mind Jarret Johnson wearing that jersey. I think he would do it proud and I don't know this kid [Kruger]. Maybe he is the next Michael McCrary, I'm not sure. It's just for him, I just thought [it was surprising]. I'll give you a couple of examples. In the Super Bowl, he comes out and shatters his hand. And I'm like, 'well Mike,' and we had already lost [Rob] Burnett in the game. He said, "My hand kind of hurts a little bit," and he pulled his hand up and I about passed out. I looked at him and I go, 'oh hell. You're alright. Just go get a cast and come on back at him.' Well, that's what he did. It turns out he has to have pins put all over his hands the day after for surgery. He was like that. Both of his knees are blown out. He was tough.
On if he watched film for the Baltimore game…
I've actually watched the tape. I don't think I need to because I went against it everyday and I recognize that defense. I will talk to their coaches about something I saw that we use to use against people and it was kind of fun to watch. Yeah, but I did glance at it and I never watched a single down, none of our coaches watched a single down of St. Louis in preparation. Will we prepare against the Ravens? I think we do that everyday so I'm not so sure. Again, my comments were more about my feelings towards McCrary than anything else.
On rotating quarterbacks in the Baltimore game…
We really haven't sat down. [Offensive coordinator] Brian [Schottenheimer] has been away for a couple of practices. But really, we haven't thought of that specific number or anything else. We'll see. But we do need to extend them.
I think this will be a great opportunity for us to see where we're at as a football team. Baltimore was probably the second-best team in the National Football League last year. I think that will be a big measuring stick. You're going to be playing in a big-time environment. That stadium will be packed so it's going to be a lot of fun. We'll get to go up against them. I know how the Ravens play. The Ravens are going to give everything they've got and that's what we want. We want to see them give everything they got because I want to see how we stack up against the best.
On how he met defensive coordinator Mike Pettine…
My initial thoughts were that he's not a very handsome guy [laughing]. That was my initial thought. He's the wrong guy to mess with because I've seen guys mess with him before and all of a sudden they will be saying, "Hello? Hello?" on their phone. And he has unscrewed it and put tape over the receiver so Pettine is not a guy you really do want to mess with. Clearly, he was a smart guy. He helped me with some projects and the more I got around him, the more I realized that this guy really knows his stuff as a football coach. He had an unbelievable work ethic. He was a natural.
So when we had the opportunity to hire a quality control coach, there is a reason why every other team he's been around wanted him to be in that role also. So we kept him on there and it's gone on from there. But, this is a guy that I knew was a special coach. It was obvious. I think we have some similar guys here. I think [Mike] Bloomgren is a guy that could be like that as well. I know Schotty [Schottenheimer] really leans on him a bunch as well.
On if he had to convince Coach Harbaugh to keep Pettine when he was hiring a staff last year…
I did a little bit because John [Harbaugh] never knew him. There were several coaches that John never knew, but that was the beauty of it. That was when I really felt it was a team like John [desired because] he wanted to do what's best for the team. Where he never had Mike Pettine on his initial list, I talked about him and tried to convince him. I think when you bring in Pettine, he comes in and maybe he's a little rough around the edges, but Pettine's going to be himself. I know John was happy as heck that he kept him for that year. We made a deal that if I ever got an opportunity to be a head coach that Mike would go with me.
On if he his comments will be different once games start…
I mean, I probably won't call out Channing Crowder again. That's one thing I probably won't do because that really got blown out [of proportion]. I'll pick on a kicker or something [laughter]. No [it's not a concern]. I'm going to be true to myself, I don't mean to be disrespectful. I'm not trying to be disrespectful. When I said that about [Bill] Belichick, I'm just letting him know I'm not intimidated by him. He's got the same position I have. We're both head coaches in this league. He just happens to have a hell of a lot of Super Bowl rings. I don't have a win and I appreciate you pointing that out [laughter]. I understand that. We're not going to just tiptoe our way through this thing. You don't win and beat a Bill Belichick-coached team by tiptoeing up there.
We're going to be ourselves and I'm going to be myself and that's just the way it is. How much more motivation are they going to get by putting a quote from Rex Ryan on their wall saying I believe in my football team and that I'm not going to be intimidated by a coach or anybody else? If that's where you're going to draw motivation from, hell, we're probably going to kick your [butt] if that's the case [laughter].
On if there are any people in the league that he does not like…
No. I've got such a great deal of respect for everyone in this league, I really do. It's funny. I stir it up a little with Baltimore because I really do want them at their best. I want to judge our football team against a great football team.
You can make arguments that they were the third best or fourth best, but they were a play or two away from maybe being a Super Bowl champ last year. That's what you want to measure yourself up against. We'll see where we are in comparison. I know it's a preseason game, but you're still competing against Ray Lewis and Ed Reed and with [Joe] Flacco over there. I'm excited about that. But really, do I dislike people? No.
On if his father, Buddy Ryan, respected Jimmy Johnson…
I think he did. I think he had a lot of respect for Jimmy Johnson, but he also wanted to send a message that his team wasn't going to be intimidated by anybody either. And that's it. I know there's bulletin board material, but he wanted his team to be a certain way and that's why he was a certain way.
I want our football team to be a physical football team and not be intimidated by anyone we play. If anything we want to be a team that is feared and respected and that's what we we're aiming for. We'll see how our team responds to different challenges. Again, I'm not going to change who I am. I think our team is made up of guys with strong character and guys that believe in what we're doing and we'll find out as the year goes on.
On if his respect for East Carolina is growing since the Jets signed Aundrae Allison…
Exactly. That's exactly right [laughter]. We've had a couple of guys from East Carolina over the years. I think Ernest Byner was from East Carolina. He was a good back.
On Nick Mangold playing in Monday's game…
We'll see, but I think he's definitely headed in that direction.
On which injured offensive linemen is closest to playing in the game on Monday…
I think it's probably Nick [Mangold].
On if the King Ugly competition has occurred yet…
The King Ugly competition? No. This a bumper crop this year. The bad thing is coaches are included and I'm going to put our general manager [Mike Tannenbaum] in there as well. It's one shot. What happens is, it's a dollar a vote, so you've got to put money up for this. The third place winner gets 75 percent of the money. The second place winner gets 25 percent. And the winner gets nothing. He's so ugly he doesn't deserve anything [laughing].
On if players are allowed to put in more than one dollar for more votes…
Oh, yeah. That's why usually you get an offensive lineman who finishes third. It's amazing how that happens. Then they pool all their money and go out that night. You can throw a lot of money. Sometimes if you really want somebody to win that award bad enough, all you have to do is put the cash out there.
On if the King Ugly competition is something he does every year…
Yeah. [Brian] Billick started it 10 years ago when I was in Baltimore. It was a lot of fun.
On when the King Ugly competiton will take place…
I think we're going to shoot for Wednesday night. You guys can make your predictions in your papers.
On whether the media can vote…
No, I don't know about that. I think it's just got to be in-house. I think I know the person who is going to win.
On who can vote…
Coaches, players. We'll take anybody's money in the organization.
On his prediction for who will win…
I'd rather not say right now [laughter]. Maybe when it gets closer, I'll let you know. I'll give you a hint. He's in an administrative position [laughter].
On if he would bring training camp back to Cortland next year…
Oh yeah, I love it. It's a great place to have camp. I can't thank the people of Cortland enough for how courteous and supportive they've been of our football team coming here. The facilities have been top notch. [In] the cafeteria, the food's been good. Everything's been top notch.
On if he is surprised by the facilities since SUNY Cortland is a Division III school…
I only came here once in the process. Clay [Hampton] and all those guys who were involved, were raving about the facilities. They knew it was top notch. I've been really impressed.
