Jets coach Rex Ryan handled being named the most overrated coach in the NFL with some humor yesterday.
“My first thought was I looked and I saw who was second,” Ryan said referring to Patriots coach Bill Belichick. “I was like, ‘Hey, I finally beat Belichick at something. I got him. I knew it would take time, but I got him.’ Golly, like it hasn’t been a tough enough year.”
The Sporting News poll has drawn a lot of attention, but Ryan said it really did not bother him.
“The next question is well, where was I rated?” Ryan said. “If I was rated really high … if you’re rated down at whatever level and you’re still overrated that would really bother me. I wasn’t offended by it.”
Ryan, who prides himself on being a coach players want to play for, said he still believes that players want to have him as their coach.
“I think if you poll the same players about who they want to play for I’ll probably end up where I always am — right at the top with [Steelers coach Mike] Tomlin,” Ryan said. “It’s either me or Mike Tomlin that’s 1 or 2 that guys want to play for. I don’t think that will change. As long as they want to come here and play and I’m overrated, that’s fine.”
The poll did nothing to humble Ryan.
“At the end of the year, we’ll see who’s overrated,” he said jokingly.
* LB Bart Scott practiced on a limited basis as he recovers from the turf toe injury that forced him to miss the Dolphins game two weeks ago. Scott said he needs to see how the toe responds today before he knows whether he can play Sunday against the Seahawks.
“We’ll see,” Scott said.
Scott is waiting on a customized shoe to arrive that will help ease the pain in his toe.
* The Jets signed OLB Ricky Sapp from their practice squad, according to a source. … NT Kenrick Ellis (knee) and RB Joe McKnight (ankle) did not practice. … Former Jet WR Braylon Edwards did not practice for the Seahawks with a knee injury, but coach Pete Carroll said he expects him to play.