NFL

Rex Ryan won’t commit to set role for Chris Johnson

Jets coach Rex Ryan said no promises were made to running back Chris Johnson about how much he will carry the ball this season.

“Nothing was ever promised, you know, that you’re going to get X amount of carries and all that kind of stuff,” Ryan said on a conference call Monday. “I think he’s just coming here … Chris is happy to be part of this football team. We’re going to have to compete for roles. No role has definitely been determined for really almost anybody on this football team.”

The Jets signed Johnson to a two-year deal last week. During his career, Johnson has averaged 290 carries per season. The Jets see Johnson being part of a running-back rotation with Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell, so that number should drop dramatically.

Ryan spoke excitedly about having a number of quality backs. He’s hoping they can recapture the success of 2009, when the Jets led the league in rushing.

“When you look at our stable of backs, it’s pretty good,” he said. “It kind of reminds me of my first year here when we had Leon Washington, we had Thomas Jones, we draft big Shonn [Greene]. We just had a great stable of backs. That’s what we have here.”

Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson said he was happy the team added Johnson.

“He’s a highlight reel waiting to happen,” he said.

As for Mike Goodson, who could be the odd man out with Johnson’s arrival, Ryan said the team remains hopeful he can return from the knee injury that ended his season last year, but Ryan said he does not anticipate Goodson being able to do anything soon.


Ryan reiterated his message from last month’s league meetings about his expectations for this team.

“It’s time to deliver. We need to deliver,” Ryan said. “I’m not going to get into the specifics of what we’re delivering and things, but I know what our fans expect. They’re going to get everything we have.”


Richardson said his goal this year is to create more turnovers. He also is hoping to register more than the 3 ½ sacks he had as a rookie.

“I feel like you have yet to see the best Sheldon Richardson can play,” the reigning defensive rookie of the year said.


Seahawks WR Sidney Rice told ESPN Radio the Jets offered him more money than Seattle, but he still decided to return to the Seahawks.