MetLife Stadium looked like a Steelers home game late in last week’s game. This week, the Jets are hoping to create a home-field advantage.
The Jets are asking fans attending the Patriots game Sunday to wear green and will be distributing green towels to fans entering the stadium, creating a “Green Out.”
“I look at it as a sea of green, so the Patriots get to see that,” coach Rex Ryan said.
The Jets have been planning this for months and it was not in reaction to their stadium being overrun by Steelers fans last week. In addition to the green towels, the Jets will have some green-themed items for sale in the stadium, such as green beer at certain concession stands.
“I think it’s a way to, hey, you know what, our fans are behind us,” Ryan said. “I think it’s a way to show the support that our fans have for our players and our organization and I think that’s why we’re doing it.”
Ryan said he did not notice the Steelers fans last week until the end of the game when they were waving their “Terrible Towels.”
“They’re only terrible when you’re losing and I think that’s when you notice them,” Ryan said. “I never noticed those guys until late, right at the end of the game. I’ve been in Arizona. That’s a lot of Steeler fans or Cowboy fans or Packer fans or somebody else fans.”
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The Jets could have a full complement of cornerbacks to face the Patriots. Rookie Dee Milliner has practiced on a limited basis this week and sounds optimistic he’ll play. Milliner has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury.
“I’m feeling good, I’m feeling great, been doing some more stuff at practice,” Milliner said on Thursday. “Hopefully, I’ll be out there.”
Cornerback Kyle Wilson also may play. Wilson suffered a concussion on Sunday but returned to practice Thursday. He wore a red jersey signifying no contact, but could be cleared by doctors Friday to play.
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The Patriots could be missing several key pieces Sunday. NT Vince Wilfork and LB Jerod Mayo are out for the season. Now, WR Danny Amendola (concussion) and CB Aqib Talib (hip) have missed practice the last two days, making it seem unlikely they will play. TE Rob Gronkowski (forearm) has not played all season, but has been practicing. He was limited on Thursday.
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Ryan said it “does not look good” for WR Santonio Holmes to return this week from a hamstring injury. Holmes spoke to reporters Thursday for seven minutes, a weekly occurrence, and complained it was taking him away from his treatment.
“How am I feeling right now?” Holmes said. “Like you guys are interrupting my treatment time right now. That’s how I’m feeling.”
Holmes’ contempt for the media is no secret and it shined through again Thursday. He was asked if he truly believes doing one interview a week is interfering with his rehab.
“I was just on the rehab table and I had to be taken off the table to come do interviews, so yes I do,” he said.