Jets coach Rex Ryan didn’t wish defensive end Shaun Ellis well in New England on Sunday, but he did mention that he respects Ellis. The longtime Jet isn’t buying it.
“I have a lot of respect for the guy, obviously. It seems like it’s not mutual. I respect him,” Ellis told Patriots reporters Monday.
Ellis may have a point. The Jets only offered a veteran’s minimum c0ntract, and that’s how you really show respect.
Speaking on NFL Live Monday, Ross Tucker said the Jets had concerns Ellis would be a bad influence on youngsters Kenrick Ellis and Muhammad Wilkerson. Tucker said there was a feeling that Ellis wasn’t totally with the program and didn’t practice hard. Those concerns were expressed to Tucker before Ellis jumped ship.
The lack of a decent offer to Ellis from the Jets says a lot more than this press conference back and forth.