When Jets coach Rex Ryan attended his son’s first football game at Clemson on Saturday, the day of final roster cut-downs, he took criticism in some corners for having misplaced priorities.
Jets owner Woody Johnson supported Ryan’s decision to visit his son Seth, a freshman walk-on. Johnson said Ryan did not want to repeat the work-first mentality of his own father, Buddy, former coach of the Eagles.
“I would have gone, too,” said Johnson at a “Join the Huddle” mobile tour promotional event for Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium. “He’d done all his work. He was available by phone if we needed him. He’d made all his calls.
“He regretted that his dad never came to any of the games, so he wasn’t about to make that same mistake, particularly on a day that didn’t really make any difference.”
Johnson also defended Ryan’s controversial decision to insert Mark Sanchez into the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Giants to play behind the second-string offensive line.
“That was a decision that was made,” he said. “I don’t have any regrets. He’s an experienced guy. I just wish he hadn’t gotten hurt.”
Johnson refused to comment on whether or not Ryan’s job was in danger, preferring to offer praise to the embattled coach, whose contract is up after the 2014 season.
“Rex is a great teacher,” he said. “He’s a great motivator and an excellent head coach in my opinion.”
Despite the predictions of gloom and doom for the rebuilding Jets, Johnson is maintaining a positive outlook for the season ahead, which opens Sunday against the Bucs.
“I’m always optimistic,” he said. “Absolutely, we can surprise people. It’s going to take a lot of perseverance and dedication. We will give it everything we have on the field, starting Sunday.”
Johnson appeared awestruck at the idea of the Super Bowl being played at his team’s home stadium on Feb. 2.
“[Being at this event], it’s a reality check,” he said. “It’s a realization that it’s almost here.”
**NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, also in attendance at the event, said he was happy with the recent concussion settlement.
“We were able to find a common ground and get the relief to the players and families now, rather than spend years litigating, when those benefits wouldn’t go to the players,” he said. “We think it’s the right thing to move forward and help the players and our families.
“Litigation is never very productive, and that’s why we engaged in the discussions to find common ground. [Court-appointed mediator] Judge [Layn] Phillips did an outstanding job.”
Goodell also commented on the fears of weather complicating of the Super Bowl, as Super Bowl XLVIII will be the first to be played outdoors in a cold-weather city.
“I would say we have contingency plans for our contingency plans,” he said. “This region knows how to deal with it. We are looking into every possible alternative. Our people have been on this for a long time, and we’ve had great cooperation from our host committee.”
Goodell was asked what it would mean if both the Jets and Giants were able to advance to the Super Bowl.
“That would obviously be unique,” he said. “It would add another storyline and element that would be great for the fans. But there’s a long ways to go, and so many things will happen over the course of the season. It’s unpredictable, and that’s what fans love about it.”
**Jonathan Tisch, the treasurer of the Giants and co-chair of the Super Bowl XLVIII Host Committee with Johnson, is excited for the possibility the Giants could play in the Super Bowl in their own stadium.
“This is an exciting season for us,” he said. “The players are motivated every year, but certainly looking forward to Feb. 2 is another tool that the coaches, under Tom Coughlin’s leadership, will be able to use to galvanize the players.”
Tisch said the Super Bowl and its related events would bring $600 million in revenue to the New York/New Jersey area