Transcript of Jets head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following Wednesday's midday practice:
First off, we decided to make this trade for Braylon Edwards this morning. Sometimes you get an outstanding player like Braylon, it's going to cost something. I think, obviously, Cleveland got two of our players and two guys that really were excellent teammates, excellent football players. It wasn't an easy decision for me to make based on that these guys were the kind of players you want to build your team around. Chansi Stuckey and Jason Trusnik, both of them I thought were outstanding for us.
But in the end I thought Braylon Edwards is a rare talent. I've had to defend against him twice a year in Baltimore and that's not fun. He had some of his biggest games against us at Baltimore. He was a matchup nightmare because you almost have to roll your coverage to him. He's one of those kinds of talents. I thought, at the end of the day when you can put him and Jerricho [Cotchery] out there on the outsides and it should open things up for our running game and Dustin Keller as well. So it's not necessarily the stats he's going to bring us, even though I think he's going to be a major factor for us in particular in the red zone. He gives us a huge red zone target. He's going open things up for other players as well.
The good thing about Braylon coming here, he doesn't have to put the team on his shoulders. He can just go out, relax, play loose, have fun and be part of a heck of a football team. That is going to be great for him. Just enjoy playing the game, enjoy your new teammates and let's see what happens
On Edwards' off-the-field issues…
I feel good about our process. Anytime we add a player to our football team, we've done an extensive background check on all of that. We're comfortable with the player on the field and off the field.
On if he's concerned that Edwards will get suspended by the league…
We've gone through the process with our security people and we're confident that Braylon is going to be a contributor for us on the field.
On if Edwards off-field issues could be a threat to his team concept…
I think he's going to be part of this football team. He's going to come in here, he doesn't have to be somebody he's not. He can just come in, relax, play the game, enjoy his teammates and be part of something that we think has a chance to be special. And I think he's going fit right in with our group. We've got a lot of veteran leadership on our football team, and he's going to enjoy the atmosphere here. I think our players and our coaches, for that matter, enjoy coming to work every day and I don't think he's going to be any different.
On if Edwards will have an easy transition to the Jets' offense after playing in a similar system with the Browns...
I think so. Even the coordinator before Brian I think was similar. So you know he is not starting from ground zero. I think he's got a good start. Then if we have to tweak things with how he learns or whatever, he's going to be on the field for us. And so I think that's how we have to approach it, that we brought Braylon Edwards to be a partner with us and put him on the field from day one and if we've got to tweak something, if we got to call, "Hey, Braylon, wristband 5," he can look down there and "OK, you've got to block somebody," then whatever we have to do, we have to do. But he's too talented not to be on the field contributing for us.
On if he'll be ready to play Monday night at Miami...
Yeah. He'd' better be. Here we go. He's going to be out there one way or the other.
On if he acknowledges that Edwards comes to the Jets with "baggage"...
I acknowledge the past is the past and we're focused on right now and the future. And I think this young man, he's done a lot of good things off the field as well. When you read his bio and all that as well, we're comfortable with Braylon Edwards being a New York Jet. So that's all I'll say — on the field and off the field.
On if he spoke to Edwards before the trade was made...
No. I spoke to people that I trust. That I really trust.
On if he's ever met Edwards or spent time with him...
I met him after games and stuff like that. There is a mutual respect, I think. I know I had a lot of respect for the kind of player he was, the kind of competitor he was. So when we had the chance to add him, I thought he would give us the best opportunity to be successful.
On if his twin brother, Rob, would be one of the people he "really trusts"...
I think you can figure that out. I don't want to get him in trouble.
On if Edwards wanting the ball puts extra pressure on QB Mark Sanchez...
No. Here is our advice: Throw it to the guy that's open. If that's Braylon, great. If that is Jerricho, if that's Dustin, if that's Tom or Leon, whoever. You know, he doesn't have to carry the team. He's just got to come in here and have fun, play like he did when he was a little kid in Pop Warner. Have fun and, like I say, enjoy the team you're with, enjoy your teammates. And I think he's going to.
On if the offensive performance at New Orleans pushed the Jets toward this trade...
Well, I don't think it was anything to do specifically with the Saints game. I just thought this was an opportunity for us to get better as a football team. And when it presented itself, regardless of who the player's going be you are going have to look at it. Obviously it was a tough decision because we're giving up a couple of excellent football players. I think Jason Trusnik has a chance to go to the Pro Bowl as a special team player. I mean, he was doing a tremendous job. And we know Stuckey's an excellent receiver.
I just thought that Braylon was a guy that, you know, when you combine him with Cotchery I really think that's going to open things up on the inside for us as well. Then if you don't respect it or whatever, I think this guy can make you pay.
On if Edwards is a No. 1 receiver, No. 2 or No. 1-A alongside Cotchery...
I don't want to use that 1-A thing like I did that one time. I see them both as No. 1 receivers. You absolutely do.
On how Edwards will help the running game...
If you want to put all those guys down there then we can take our shots on the outside on you. And we'll see how teams defend us. You know, if that's the case, go for it. Because I have a lot of confidence in Sanchez being able to make those throws and I like our chances on the outside.
On if a big wideout such as Edwards was the missing piece to improving the Jets...
No disrespect to the other receivers. I think we have a good corps of receivers. But when we're able to add, you know, another top-notch No. 1 receiver to our group, especially to go with Jerricho, I just look at it from a defensive perspective, that I've had to go against this guy two times a year now for a long time. And he's young, fast, big. He's got a size advantage. When he's covered, he's still open. He's got great leaping ability.
Now he's had some drops. Everybody drops the ball. He's had probably more than some guys. But he also comes down with some unbelievable catches. I mean, this guy is a playmaker. Last year I thought we had an interception — you can't play it better than we did. Our corner comes down, he thinks he's got it, got both hands on the ball, and this guy just takes it — touchdown. You got to be kidding me. I thought that ball was intercepted. That is the kind of play that Braylon Edwards can make.
On any ready explanation for Edwards' drops...
Not really. It can be a lot of things, you know. Maybe the ball's not exactly where you would normally put it. And then there are other things, maybe you'd have to ask him, you know. Might have been some focus issues. I'm not sure. I know that everybody has drops. But I know statistically he's had some drops through his career. And is he going to catch every pass that's thrown to him? No. But he's going catch enough of them. I think he's going to make a lot of difference when he does catch them. I think he's going to have a lot of chances of scoring in the red zone as well.
On the health of the secondary for the Dolphins...
I think we'll be OK in the secondary but right now this is kind of early in the process, this is kind of a bonus day for us. But my main thing is we've got to stop the run first or we don't have to worry about the secondary having to cover anybody — they'll just run it every snap. To me we've got a to do a great job of stopping the run this week. But I think we'll be fine on the secondary. As far as injury, having Lito practice today, I don't think we need to address that today, but he was out there. So how's that for a little bonus coverage? [laughter]
On if Edwards is definitely playing Monday night...
Right.
On if Edwards will play a significant role if he practices well...
I think he will. Just put one guy on him and he'll play a real significant role, you know.
On his initial reaction to Mike Tannenbaum telling him the Jets can make this trade...
I was excited. We had had initial talks and my first reaction is "Oh, man," you know, it's not the pitch necessarily as it was Jason Trusnik and Chansi Stuckey, both good football players and guys that I really appreciate. They're great teammates and they're going be missed around here. You know, both those guys.
Again, you can't get something for nothing. But the more I thought it about it, the more I thought that you know what? This will be a good move for our football team. We're adding an outstanding receiver. Like I say, I've had to go against him twice a year. And I think that's just difficult from a matchup standpoint and from you've got to roll your coverage there. And if you don't, then you're really asking for it. So I think it's going help, not just the plays that he's going to bring that I see him bringing, but he's going to loosen things up for other guys to make plays.
On confirming that Edwards will start Monday night...
Yes.
On having both Edwards and Calvin Pace in uniform for the Dolphins...
Yeah. I think we both know what they can do. And that is probably why we're so excited about it. Calvin, I'm sure he can't wait to get out there. He's been away for a month. The guys did a nice job in his place, but, again, you know Calvin's a rare guy.
On if he will limit Pace or bring him along slowly...
No. He owes us a month. He's going to be out there [laughter].
On telling the Dolphins media today he doesn't believe in the notion of rebuilding...
Absolutely not. It's the same thing that I've talked about since I got here. I'm not an undersell guy. Undersell, overproduce, go .500. You can be around and be safe and fly under the radar. That is not me. I expect to win. And, you know, how can your team expect to win if you don't even have the courage and the guts to come out and say it yourself? I mean, that to me tells them that you really don't believe. I don't have that problem.
I believe in this football team. I have from day one I. Believe in everybody in this organization from top to bottom and there's no reason this shouldn't be our time to win. And I think when you look at it, every team in the league is dealing with the exact same salary cap. So there's no "This team's got this much money and this team's got this kind of money." No, everybody is right there on a level playing field.
So why wouldn't your our goal to be to win a championship? That may be somebody else's goal to go .500 or do this and that. I want to win the whole thing.
On if Edwards is the piece that could put the Jets over the top...
I don't know if that is the case or whatever. I think he's going be part of it, part of the puzzle. I think we have an outstanding football team. And we got a chance Monday to go out and prove it against a team that I think is No. 2 in time of possession and No. 1 in rushing the football. So this is going to be a great challenge. And really I think I am avoiding the other part. Because we got to get through the Miami Dolphins before we can win a Super Bowl. But, again, our goal is to win a Super Bowl.
Mike Tannenbaum, I have a great appreciation for Mike because he's always trying to make our football team better. And when this opportunity presented itself, again, you make a move based on will this give us a better chance to have a shot at our goal? And I think this move's really going to help us.
On if Edwards' reputation is a test or challenge for him...
I've been around the game a long time. And I've had guys that supposedly were uncoachable, all this kind of stuff, and those guys play their tails off. Not for me, but for themselves, for their teammates, whatever. I might have had a little part to do with it. But I've never had a problem with a player ever not performing. So I think this is an opportunity. I think we're going get the best out of Braylon Edwards.
I think he's happy to be here and I think he's going to enjoy his surroundings, being around this group. I think it's a fun place to be. I think people enjoy coming to work every day. And I think he's going to be encouraged by that kind of environment, as would any player in this league.
On how much he looks forward to the Monday night spotlight...
Well, I'm one of those kind of guys, I really like the spotlight [laughter]. You know, it's game. I don't care if we play it on Thursday night, whenever, we'll play at any time. Just so happens to be Monday night. I think this is a bigger game for the players because it's the only game everybody's watching it. So I think it's great for the organization to have that national attention. But for me personally, I really don't care. It doesn't affect me one way or the other.
On any words for Dolphins LB Channing Crowder...
Everybody knows the tone that I had in here initially and for some reason I think that never reached Channing at the time. But my only thing is, I'll be easy to find, you know. I will be easy to spot out there. I'll have a white jersey on with number 77 on it [laughter]. And he can just have at it if he wants.
