Transcript of interviews with selected Jets players during the locker room media period Monday afternoon:
WR LAVERANUES COLES
On the loss to Cincinnati …
We are at one of those points now where we get the opportunity to find out what a lot of the guys that we have on this team are made of. We are disappointed at the way things have gone so far this season and now you find out where you are at and the character of the guys that are in this locker room. Either we are going to pull together and try to make the best of a bad situation or things can really start snowballing for us. You want to go in the right direction and try to be positive about everything.
On critics saying that Chad Pennington should be benched …
People are going to be people. People's opinions are just that. They can do whatever they want to do with that. It doesn't matter to us. We still have a lot of football to play. We don't want things to go in the wrong direction and be any worse than they already are. We're trying to pull things together and keep guys together and trying to make the best of a bad situation.
On what it will take to turn the season around …
We have to look at ourselves first. Each player individually has to understand what is being asked of us as a player and try to execute that on the field. When you watch the film, there are so many great and positive things that we do and then there are phases of the game where things turn south. We have to find a way to keep those plays from going bad. It is about all of us looking inside ourselves and trying to turn this thing around.
On handling adversity …
It is easy to be happy and talk to the media when things are going well, but it is what guys are about when things aren't going well. We are not just talking about now — we are talking about the future of the organization. If you have guys that bail on you when times aren't good, you know those aren't the guys you want around. You want character guys that are going to be around when the times are good and the times are bad.
On the 1-6 start …
It's a combination of things. Some things you just can't put your finger on. We have a lot of good players. Guys are playing hard, working hard and putting the time in. I know they are putting the time in, the effort in and the work in for us to have a positive season. Some things you just don't have an answer to and this is one of those situations that I don't.
On what is keeping the team motivated …
With the competitive nature that I have, I always want to compete. Never-say-die attitude is the one that I have. Until the end comes, I'm going to keep fighting and keep playing because that is all I can do. I want the guys in this locker room to follow that lead. I'm going to go out and work hard and continue to approach and prepare for the games the same way I've been doing so. Hopefully, things will work out for us.
S KERRY RHODES
On the Bengals' offensive turnaround in the second half …
They made some adjustments. They came out and stuck to the run a little bit more than we thought they would and a little bit more than they showed they would. We were playing the percentages there. We didn't think they would keep running the ball like they did, but they did and had success with it.
On the losing streak …
We have to get one win here just to stop it. This is four in a row now. It is not a good taste in your mouth. You want to go out and get a win and try to stop it. If we can, it will be great.
On the scrutiny of Chad Pennington …
It comes with the territory. He is a quarterback in New York. The team is not doing well, so all the blame is going to be on him first. It is what it is. He can shoulder all of the burden. He's done it before. He's been here and he's won here. He's going through a tough time now, but so is the team. We are still behind him.
On staying composed …
There are plenty of chances that we could have blown up at each other on the sideline or questioned what was going on, but we can't do that. If you do, it will make things even worse. Things are not good enough as they are, so you don't want to start anything else.
On the 1-6 start …
It is frustrating because we know we have good players in this locker room. We say that all the time but we really do. We are not getting it done as a team. That is all that it is.
On Coach Mangini saying he is going to evaluate each player …
In this league you are never safe. You are one play away from being hurt on the field or not having a good game and having somebody behind you ready to come in. That is the way the league works. There is not a lot of pressure. If you are doing your job and doing what you have to do, you shouldn't be worried.
RB LEON WASHINGTON
On the loss …
It is frustrating because of how hard we worked all week long and how hard we have worked all year long. We have not been able to carry it over to a game and perform for four quarters. We all have to look at the mistakes we can work on collectively, coaches and players.
On the second-half struggles …
It was a tale of two halves. We came out with a lot of energy and a lot of focus and executed on most of our drives on offense [in the first half] and we executed on our first drive in the second half. When you play a good team like Cincinnati, who can put points on the board, you have to execute in all three phases of the game. We really didn't do a good job on special teams and that starts with me and the rest of the guys on the teams unit.
On the criticism of Chad Pennington ...
You are going to hear that from the fans and that is part of the game that we have to deal with. Chad is our guy. We believe in him. We all play hard out there for each other. We will let that part take care of itself on the field.
On staying focused ...
It is very important for us to take it one game at a time and one practice at a time, prepare ourselves like we have been preparing. Each guy has to look into themselves and give a little bit more effort. Deep down, if each guy can do that, it will put a lot more percentage toward the outcome of the game and getting a win.
