Rex Ryan on Friday continued to deny he had any role in the trip heard ’round the NFL.
After former Ravens coach Brian Billick said in a radio interview Ryan had to know his team built a wall of people to disrupt opponents’ punt coverage, the Jets head coach replied to reporters in New Jersey.
“I just wish he (Billick) would’ve asked me. I would’ve told him the truth. I think he made an assumption there; but he’s wrong,” Ryan said.
“The facts are the facts. I never knew, so it’s easy for me to stand up here and tell you that. I’m not a guy that lies. If that amazes people, that amazes people. It’s easy for me to stand here and tell you that.”
Billick, Ravens head coach when Ryan was a Baltimore assistant, said Ryan was aware of the tactic.
“Of course Rex knew about this,” Billick said Thursday on ESPN Radio.
The NFL is reviewing a rule that could punish the Jets for comments assistant coach Mike Westhoff made about the Patriots building a sideline wall of players, ESPN.com reports.
“I think you’re gonna see the league come down on this a little harder than we’ve already seen,” Billick said on “Mike & Mike in the Morning.”
“Yeah, it was orchestrated, there’s no question about it. That’s a part of the gamesmanship, except it was taken too far with regards to the player’s safety on the sideline.”
After Jets assistant Sal Alosi was suspended by the team for organizing a wall to obstruct Dolphins punt coverage in last Sunday’s game — from which Alosi tripped a Dolphins player — Westhoff in more than one interview said the Patriots may use similar tactics.
According to the ESPN.com report, “A 2008 league memo from commissioner Roger Goodell, printed in the San Francisco Chronicle and brought to light Thursday by ESPNBoston.com, warned every team that making false claims against other clubs could result in penalties.”
It says the memo reads: “Any club or individual reporting a violation is expected to do so in good faith, to have a reasonable basis for believing a violation occurred, and to produce (or to identify) evidence to substantiate the claim. In the event I determine that a claim is made in bad faith, is frivolous or that the club or person making the complaint is unable to produce evidence to support the charge, I will impose appropriate sanctions.”
Westhoff told reporters in New Jersey this week he does not coach the Jets to use the tactic but of the Patriots he said: “Were they teaching it? I have no idea. When they punted, were they back? Yes. When the other team punted, were they up tighter? Yes. Absolutely. You can look at it.
“Look at the tape. I’m not accusing the Patriots of doing something wrong, maybe they are doing something smart. That’s up to you. Just watch the tape. You tell me.”
Westhoff made similar comments to a Chicago radio station.
Ryan on Friday refused to address whether other teams have had similar formations on their sidelines.
“I’m not going to talk about another team or anybody else,” he said. “I’m just saying, for us, I was not aware that we did that. We found out that it did take place. We were up front about that when we found out about it, and it was a mistake.”
The ESPN report says the NFL will meet with the Jets, possibly Friday, to ask questions about the matter. Two Jets players this week said Alosi has given instructions to build a wall on the sideline all season.
The NFL sent a letter to the 32 teams Thursday reminding them of the rules and restrictions for the bench area and sidelines.
It said in part, “violations could subject your team and/or individuals to both in-game penalties and other disciplinary action. Flagrant violations after two warnings could result in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.”
Fines and suspensions could be imposed by the league, as well.
Billick, now a game analyst for CBS, said the warnign should be heeded by all teams.
“If you think the New York Jets are the only ones who have this type of mentality (to impede players covering punts), you’ll have to think again,” Billick said.
With Brian Lewis; AP