Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following Wednesday's midday practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
OK, we're not going to change because there are a few more cameras here. Our injury report: Calvin Pace, Darrelle Revis, Wayne Hunter and Nick Mangold did not practice today; Jason Taylor was limited in practice. Calvin Pace and Darrelle Revis will not play in this game. I just felt I might as well let you know now that Revis is not to where he can play. We will leave him back. He will not make the trip to Miami. He will be getting all kinds of treatment, about 12 hours worth of treatment each day. He's itching to get back, but it's too risky of a proposition to put him out there and that's what we decide. The other guys, I'm anticipating them playing with the exception of Calvin. Calvin and Darrelle will be out. Wayne Hunter and Nick, I'm hopeful that they'll both be able to play, as well as Jason.
On Wayne Hunter's injury…
That just happened. His shin is three times the size of the other one. I don't know how it happened, but that's what kept him out today. Hopefully, that will get better.
The other issue, obviously, a disappointing deal with Braylon Edwards. I talked to Braylon last night. I talked with several people. I talked with the team this morning and what I mention to the team was that quite honestly I'm tired of dealing with some of these issues. I'm tired of the embarrassment to our owner. I feel it's an embarrassment to our owner and this organization. Let's just end it. Let's stop it. Whatever it is, however severe, minor, we don't need to be that team. This team works too hard to be looked at in this light. Yes, we have a great time. We have a lot of fun. We get after it. We play a physical brand, but the other thing is, as you guys know who are here every day, this football team works and we compete and we study. We do everything it takes to win. That's what we've got to focus on instead of other issues, myself being as guilty as anybody. This is an unfortunate situation that happened. Obviously, the facts are coming out know. None of us know the facts 100 percent right now. I'm not going to tell that Braylon is going to miss X amount of the game or whatever it is because, quite honestly, I'm not ready to do that right now. You get some information this way or that way, but when it's the right time, I'll make that decision. It'll be the decision that's in the best interest of the New York Jets and not anybody else.
On what facts he is still trying to gather…
I'm not going to share anything that I spoke with Braylon about or anything else. I'm sure you guys, as well as me, are getting some facts, but there are other things as well. I'd rather not go into that and I will not go into that.
On if he would have considered deactivating Edwards if there wasn't an issue with the CBA…
Again, our decision is going to be based on what I think is the appropriate thing for the New York Jets. We've already said Braylon will not start. How much of the game? I'm going to make what I feel is the appropriate decision at that time.
On how he came to the decision to not start Edwards against Miami…
When it came out, that was my first reaction to it. We would not start Braylon and that's what we're going with. That's how I felt at the time and I've already mentioned the fact that I think it's an embarrassing moment for the organization and I don't want to put our owner in a bad situation, an embarrassing light. It's just something that I feel is appropriate.
On if players didn't know about the PlayerProtect program since two other players were also in the car…
Everybody did know about the PlayerProtect program. There's no question about it. I'm not going to get into what they said. I'm not going to get into that because they are private conversations that I had with D'Brickashaw [Ferguson] and Vernon [Gholston] as well.
On if he is unhappy with Edwards' selfishness…
Obviously, I'm not happy with that.
On if he thinks that not starting Edwards is enough of a punishment…
That's a punishment. To any competitor, that's a bigger punishment than you think. Again, we'll see what happens as we go on. That's it for now. Those are the facts that we know right now. He will not start.
On what he meant when he said he was as "guilty as anybody"…
That I embarrassed the organization with the deal in Miami that I had before.
On when he'll play Edwards in the game…
I'll know before we play the game.
On if there is a certain amount of time Edwards needs to play in the game against Miami to avoid a grievance from the players union…
Nobody said anything like that to me as far as you can play him "X" amount to avoid a grievance. That has not been brought up to me.
On why he decided to sit Edwards in a game that's of such importance to the Jets' season...
I'm not sitting him. I just said he won't start.
On how the players can eliminate embarrassing situations…
By doing what we provide. No team provides what we do for our players and cares for their players like we do. Everything about our football is like that. We have the PlayerProtect that we give to the players. We want them to take advantage of it. No one knows who uses it. We want our guys to take advantage of that. There's everything else here that we provide for our players as well, to think about those things. If you're ever going to have a couple of drinks out in public, you ought to be aware. Number one, you know we have this program in place, let's take advantage of it or let's take a cab. Don't put yourself at risk or our football team at risk.
On what he would say to the critics who have said this is a result of his undisciplined way of running the team…
I totally disagree. I think people that have been here and see our football team know we are a disciplined football team. I think some of it gets lost in, "Well, they had a cheeseburger" deals. There are some surrounding circumstances about those things. I think with Hard Knocks, they showed five hours of who we are. They represented us. That's fine. That's who are, but there is also hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours that they don't show about our team. You guys that cover our team on a regular basis know the kind of guys we have in our locker room and know the kind of work ethic we have. I think we are a very disciplined team. The fact that I made a mistake in the offseason, if that filters in, then that was an embarrassment moment and that's one of the things I'm talking about to out team.
On how he can make sure nothing like this happens again…
You can never be sure about that. You can never be assured of that. But I feel that with our football team, this is an isolated incident.
On if there is rule he can put in place to prevent future incidents…
I'm not going "what-ifs." I feel we have a lot of great people in our locker room.
On how he found out…
I was called by Mike Tannenbaum at maybe 6:30 a.m. or 6:00 a.m.
On if he talked to Edwards about why he didn't use the PlayerProtect program…
I'm not going to talk about my conversations with Braylon.
On if he thinks players are reluctant to use PlayerProtect because the organization might find out…
They shouldn't because this an independent deal. It is 100 percent confidential. It's so we avoid situations like this.
On if he is worried about the legal repercussions with Edwards…
No. We'll see. I don't really want to get into it. I don't really know how to answer it, but I think our football team has learned our lessons. With this incident that happened with Braylon, I think it serves me, the other coaches and the players in the organization that we have to be held accountable to each other and that this thing is in place for us to use. Whether you don't go out and drink, that's an easy thing to do, or if you're going to go out and drink, there's another way home. You don't run a risk of something like this or, God forbid, anything else happen. That's something that our football team is very aware of.
On his first reaction…
To say the least, I was a little upset. We know how important this game is. We're playing the dolphins. The winner of this game is technically in first place of our division. I always look at like a game and a half when you play a divisional game. If we win this game, we're up half a game in the division and if we lose it, they're going to be 2½ over us. It's a huge game. That's one of the reasons why I was upset.
On if he was more upset because he had talked to Edwards that day about the penalty he had in the game against New England…
That's why my first opinion was that we were going to bench him. I wasn't going to say we are going to suspend him indefinitely because I don't know the facts. I wanted to make a statement that I did feel good about which is that we won't start him.
On if it is a bad example to kids that Edwards doesn't seem to have to face any consequences…
No. Whether Braylon is found guilty or innocent is going to come out later. That's going to come out. I made a decision to bench Braylon. I think that's a punishment and any competitor will tell you that is a punishment. How long? I'll make that decision later in the week when I'm comfortable doing that.
On how to prevent the Jets from being a team with a bad image…
All you can do is provide what we do. We provide all the educational things for our players. We provide appropriate deals to avoid situations like this with the PlayerProtect, counseling. We have everything here and we've got to take advantage of the things we have in place. I'm not going to hold people's hand 24/7. We're professionals, we need to act like professionals. That was the message to the team today.
On if this says something about the risks involved with bringing in a player who had problems with another team…
No. I'm proud of the players we have in our locker room. I helped choose every one of them in the locker room. I think we have a lot of great men in our locker room. I think Braylon is a good man. I think Braylon made a mistake. I don't know many guys who donated $500,000 to their university, but I know Braylon did. There's a lot of positive thing about Braylon Edwards. Unfortunately, he's going to be looked at in this light for what appears to be a mistake.
On if they have addressed the laws for tinted car windows with the players…
That's being addressed right now. I know states are different, guys are from all over the country, but we'll address that as well.
