New York Jets coach Rex Ryan is never at a loss for words, and his appearance on the Michael Kay Show on ESPN Radio in New York did not disappoint. Ryan wasn’t full of braggadoccio, as he sometimes can be, but he was full of honest answers.
The full transcript is available at Sports Radio Interviews. Here, though, is some of what Ryan had to say.
On the enormity of the game Monday:
“Probably so because of the fact that you’ve got two teams that are 9-2, at the top of the division, and the winner of this game will be in sole possession of first place in the division. It’s just a great opportunity for us. We know the challenge that we have in front of us, but as a competitor, these are games that you love to play in.”
On the message they could send if they go into Foxboro and beat the Pats on the road:
“I think people understand that anyway because we have won our last eight regular season games on the road. It would be that clear message to the league that we knocked off the number one team in the league. That’s how people are looking at New England like they’re the best team in football right now and people want to dismiss what we’ve accomplished because of records and all that stuff of opponent but that’s okay. At the end of the day we get to prove if we are the best team. Right now we feel like this is going to be a huge game and obviously these guys are playing great, but were confident.”
On whether or not this is a be all end all game:
“It’s not an end all be all game, but this is way more than just another game. This is just another game between two 9-2 teams with the division lead riding on this and I’m not telling that lie. Of course this is a special game. How much more is this game worth than other ones? I don’t know but this is a huge game. It’s probably as big of a regular season game as I have been involved in.”