CORTLAND — The Jets answered dares from Jimmy Fallon and the rival Patriots on Wednesday with team-wide participation in the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise money for ALS research.
A collection of Jets rookies lined up at the end of practice to be doused with buckets of ice water as they stood on the stadium track at SUNY Cortland while fans cheered. The Jets then added some spice to their challenge by having a truck from the Cortlandville Fire Department raise a ladder above them and douse a group that included Rex Ryan and GM John Idzik with a hose.
They were following in the footsteps of Jets owner Woody Johnson, who had answered the challenge from Fallon and the Patriots on his own Tuesday.
Idzik challenged the Yankees, Mets and Super Bowl champion Seahawks — his former team — to participate in the charity event, while Ryan dared New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the Jets cheerleaders and the Browns.
Ryan needled Cleveland coach (and longtime friend) Mike Pettine during his challenge, saying Pettine needed to “take a page out of our playbook” and participate.
Ryan was referring to Pettine telling MMQB.com in July he was slimming down the Browns’ playbook because Ryan gives out copies of the Jets’ playbook “like candy.”