As the New York Jets prepare to play the Miami Dolphins for the first time in the head-coaching tenure of Rex Ryan, Ryan says he regrets getting into an offseason verbal back-and-forth with Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder.
“I think the thing with Channing Crowder, if I had to do one thing over, that would probably be it,” Ryan said, per Tim Graham of ESPN.com, “because clearly I was joking about the whole thing, which I had done before in the past in Baltimore with Chad [Ochocinco] and with some other guys.
“For some reason, I don’t think the tone was reflected that way. That is what it is. I’ll say this to you guys: I’m not going to be hard to find out there. I’ll be wearing a white jersey with a 77 on it.”
Ryan is making a joke. The guy wearing the white jersey with a 77 on it is nose tackle Kris Jenkins.
And it reminds me of something a reader suggested after Crowder invited me to come to his house so that he could pummel me. The advice? Wear a Colts jersey with a 44 on it, and Crowder will never catch you.
Ryan also talked about his habit of chattering, and whether it motivates the opponents.
“I think bulletin board material is something that if I was being disrespectful, or somebody’s being disrespectful to an opponent, I think that’s where it could probably motivate you, but I’ve never been disrespectful to anybody,” Ryan said.
“But also understand this: We think we have a heck of a football team, and we’re confident. We’re not afraid of anybody. We’re not backing down from anybody. We came here to try to win a championship, and if people have a tough time with it, so be it.”
As to Ryan’s prior issue with that linebacker from Miami, Crowder has moved on.
“He’s OK,” Crowder said. “He’s a young coach. He got caught up in the bull, and as a coach you can’t do that. It wasn’t that big a deal.”
I hope Crowder is feeling as charitable when I’m in Miami for Super Bowl week.
I’ll be taking a Dallas Clark jersey, just in case.
Mr. Reebok, can you hook me up?