Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following Wednesday's midday practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
Damien Woody is going to be placed on IR. He got an Achilles' injury in the other [left] leg. It's really unfortunately. He played almost the whole game [at Indianapolis]. I mentioned he was a little wobbly. Well, there was a reason. It wasn't his knee, it's an Achilles' tendon, so he will be placed on IR today.
Guys that did not practice today were Brandon Moore [back], Brad Smith [groin] and Patrick Turner [illness]. Guys that were limited were Santonio Holmes [quad], James Ihedigbo [knee/ankle] and [Darrelle] Revis [hamstring]. Guys that were full were [Antonio] Cromartie [groin], Ben Hartsock [back], Nick Mangold [shoulder], Sione [Pouha, back], Tony Richardson [finger], [Mark] Sanchez [right shoulder] and Bryan Thomas [ankle]. Those are our injuries.
On the sweater vest tradition…
Well, I was trying to cover up the boiler. I thought that was the best way to do it [laughter]. That's really where it came from. I saw it and said, "Let's go with that."
On the fans in the stands copying the sweater vest style…
Well, it's a style that should be copied. It's a good look. I could see why they would want to have that look [laughing].
On when he found out Woody was hurt…
He actually never finished. It was on the last drive and he came out. I never knew the extent of the injury. Obviously he didn't either. I guess he's going to that surgery maybe this afternoon. It's unfortunate. He played great and played the whole game against Robert Mathis, who is a great player.
On how it feels to have Woody hurt during last couple weeks of the season…
It's tough. He worked his tail off to get back and then he had a great challenge against Mathis. He did a great job during that game. Now, getting ready to play his old team New England and what all that represents, it's tough. We're fortunate. I've always said that we have the best backup tackle in the league in Wayne Hunter. He's played a lot of football for us and we have a lot of confidence in Wayne.
On if Woody tore his Achilles' tendon…
I don't know.
On how far Mark Sanchez has come since last year…
It's huge. His confidence is really huge. I think that comes with his knowledge of the system, how he feels about his teammates and being able to recognize defenses. He's way a head where he was last year.
On Antonio Cromartie's comments towards Tom Brady…
I think that language was a little strong for me [laughing]. You shouldn't like who you are up against right now. This is the playoffs. I can tell you our whole football team respects Brady and the Patriots. There's no question, but hey, we don't like any of them right now. You shouldn't. Danny Woodhead is a great kid, but I can't stand Danny Woodhead right now. I think that's just part of it and trust me, the feeling is mutual. Mike Tannenbaum is from UMass and you know they're saying some bad things about Tannenbaum this week. It is what it is. I think you just want to play the game.
On if he has been disrespected by Tom Brady…
Disrespect? No. Brady is a great competitor and if he can stick it to you, he's going to. Just like we're going to do to him if we get the chance, and anybody else. He is a great, fierce competitor. The great thing about Brady is that he thinks he's going to win every game. That sounds really familiar because I know that's how I feel. I think we're going to win every game and he feels the same way. He gets to go out and prove it on the field. I get to watch.
On who is the better quarterback, Peyton Manning or Tom Brady…
I would like to have either one of them. Sanchez, I hope can be that kind of quarterback one day. You know my thing with one and one A. Remember how that went over so well when I got here [smiling]? That's where I'd put them — 1 and 1-A.
On which quarterback is 1 and which is 1-A...
I don't have any idea. I'll let you figure that one out [laughter].
On if Brady points at the opposing team after he scores…
Yes. Absolutely.
On if Brady pointing is a regular thing…
I think so because he does it so frequently. He's mastered it [smiling].
On if the talk between the Jets and the Patriots is overrated…
I have a feeling the motivation for New England to beat us has nothing to do with me. Just like our motivation to beat New England has nothing to do with anyone there. We want to win to advance just like they do. After the game they can blow it up to be whatever it is. That's the truth. That's the reality of it.
On if Brady's fistpump is different than other quarterbacks' celebrations…
I think so. He was definitely looking over there for some reason. I don't know if he was looking for somebody. My job is to keep him from doing that.
On if Brady's fistpumping is a form of taunting…
Yes and it should be penalized.
On if the Patriots will target Cromartie…
I think [Darrelle] Revis guaranteed victory this week [laughing]. Go ahead and call it, Revis [laughing]. That's what I'm looking at. He did it. I heard him say it so go ahead and do it. All I did was guarantee a Super Bowl this year so I wouldn't worry about just one game. How about just laying it out there for everybody.
On his speech quoting Hernan Cortez…
I just stole it from somebody. I think what I do is go off of the little knowledge I do have that I've gained through history classes. You pick up things along the way during your career. I thought that was the appropriate message at that time.
On if there comes a point where he thinks the team talks too much…
No. Everything I've ever said is because I have a strong belief in our football team. I've gone into every game in my life thinking I'm going to win and we're going to win. I have belief in myself. I've said it before, I believe in myself, but more importantly, I believe in the players that I coach and I believe in the assistants that coach with me and this organization.
If I'm saying something, I'm just stating a fact. I believe our football team will win. It doesn't matter if it's last week, this week or any week from here on out. That's just the way I feel. I've never ripped an opponent, at least publicly. They can be great. If somebody beats us, they have to be unbelievable. They have to be one heck of a football team and that's how I feel.
On Patriots CB Devin McCourty…
I don't know if you necessarily want to pick on that rookie from Rutgers, McCourty. How many picks does he have? Is he going to need to intercept 20 balls before people stop throwing it at him? I don't know. He's done a great job. He makes big plays.
The thing that's the most impressive stat about the Patriots is the plus-28 turnover ratio. That's an incredible stat. I think it's the second-best in NFL history or close to it. Their formula is simple. They get ahead of you, you have to try to catch up, and when you do, you make mistakes. That's why the yardage is a little misleading when you look at their defense. Their defense is 25th in the league, but it's much better than that. They force turnovers.
The other thing is their nine scores on returns, the five by their defense, the two kick returns, a punt return, a blocked punt for a touchdown. Those are impressive numbers that maybe aren't in the regular numbers but that you certainly notice going against them.
On if he has ever worked for an organization that has asked him to tone his personality down…
Probably everybody I have ever played for or coached, but nobody asked me before. When I was a defensive coordinator I would say the same things, but instead of having this many reporters, there may have been one or two. That's about it. Now it's just a bigger stage, but I was still the same person then as I am now.
On having a week for the safeties to practice…
It certainly helps that you have had longer to prepare for them. We will see if it makes that big of a difference. I certainly hope it does.
On how it felt to lose Jim Leonhard before the last game against the Patriots…
It was tough, there's no question. He was basically the quarterback of our defense. The one thing that it did was it made Brodney Pool learn the defense instead of just relying on that one guy. Brodney has played exceptionally well since that injury. Sometime you lean so much on a guy because he knows the system and you wait for him to tell you what to do. Now Brodney is like, "Well, I have to learn it." Brodney has done an outstanding job for us as of late.
On Pool going 1-on-1 with top receivers…
Anytime you have a safety covering a wideout or a receiving tight end, I don't know if comfortable is the right word but he certainly can do the job. He's as athletic as any of the safeties out there.
On if Sanchez's preparation for Sunday is different than the preparation for the last game against the Patriots…
We have moved past that game, but we are certainly going to look at it and learn from it. I think the big thing is saying how poorly he played fell right into line. When you're down 100 points, you're going to make mistakes. That probably had more to do with it than anything else.
On if he spoke to Cromartie about his comments towards Brady…
No. I did say that they now have someone they dislike more than me [laughter]. I felt pretty good.
On if Brad Smith will play on Sunday…
We expect Brad to play. If he doesn't play, you're obviously not going to have the Wildcat like you would if he was in there. He's such a threat back there in that role because he can throw it and he can run it. He has great ballhandling and can throw the option pass and shovel pass. I certainly hope he can play.
On if Cromartie will be used for kickoff returns even if Smith is available…
No. If Brad can go, he led the league in kickoff returns, I would keep Brad in that role if he's 100 percent.
On if the players need to win their 1-on-1 matchups to beat Brady…
That's part of it. If you put us in that situation, he gets rid of the ball so fast that you're not going to get sacks. It's as simple as that. You're not going to sack him. You want to disrupt him. You want to disrupt the timing of it where he's not comfortable. You want to get hits on him.
The thing about Brady is he'll stand in there until the last second and he'll throw the ball, where some guys are rhythm quarterbacks — one, two, boom, shoot it out. He'll wait and he'll take the hit. He's not going to try to knock you over like [Ben] Roethlisberger does and just come by and smack the guy. You can get more hits on Brady. The longer he has to throw, that's tough. We have to do a great job finishing our rushes without question and hopefully not let him have that kind of timing. The guy was as hot as I've ever seen him and unfortunately we were on the receiving end of it.
On how concerned he is about Brandon Moore's injury…
I think Brandon will be fine. He kind of tweaked his back in the weightroom. Everybody's going, "Oh, there's another weightroom injury." He was just do some exercise for his back and he tweaked it.
