The big bad New York Jets have turned down the volume ever-so-slightly for their early season showdown with the Patriots. Even Rex Ryan admits the team’s season opening loss humbled him. A little.
“It humbled me because it was the first time we opened up our new stadium,” Ryan said in a conference call with Patriots reporters. “The fans were into it from start to finish, and it’s such a disappointment. That was it more than anything else. We lost to a pretty good football team. I believe the Patriots lost to them in the playoffs the last time I looked.”
Humbled a little, yes. But not above a reflex jabbing of this week’s opponent.
Still, we have to agree with Albert Breer of the Boston Globe. He notes it’s a “little different” in the Jets locker room this week. Restrained.
Darrelle Revis was asked about calling Randy Moss a slouch, and was very diplomatic. Braylon Edwards said he has “too much respect” for Joe Namath to respond to Namath’s criticisms. (Although he’d like Namath to tell him to his face.) Running back Shonn Greene has taken the loss hard after losing a fumble.
“I took that loss on my shoulders,” Greene said. “That was a key moment in the game, that fumble, and then it turned into a touchdown for Baltimore. I put that pretty much on my shoulders.”
The Jets had their reality show and their cheeseburgers on the field. That was fun. But they know they can’t have any more fun for a while if they start their season with two home losses.
“I’m good now,” Greene said Wednesday in his first comments after ducking the media after the game. “I just can’t wait to play Sunday to try and have some positive [things].”