Jets owner Woody Johnson does not sound like a man on the verge of making a coaching change.
Appearing on the team’s pregame show Sunday on 98.7 ESPN Radio, Johnson had positive things to say about his team.
“I’m pretty happy with the way things are going,” Johnson said.
That sounds good for coach Rex Ryan, who has one year remaining on his contract. The answer came in response to a question whether the upcoming offseason would be his hardest in terms of the decisions he had to make.
The Jets improved to 6-7 after a 37-27 win over the Raiders on Sunday and still have slim playoff hopes. Johnson said the decision on whether to keep Ryan will not be based solely on the team’s record.
“It’s really the direction of the team and how we think the learning curve is going and whether the young people are absorbing it, and whether it’s a formula that can help you win,” Johnson said.
Ryan, as he has all season, said his future is not weighing on his mind.
“We’re just trying to win,” Ryan said. “That’s what this thing’s about. I’m happy we got this one. We’ve got a ton of work in front of us.”
Jets guard Willie Colon threw his support behind Ryan.
“Since I’ve been a Jet, Rex has been so selfless,” said Colon, who signed with the team in March. “He bleeds green. He believes in this team when sometimes we don’t believe in each other. There’s so many times where he’s stood up in front of us and really cried and did everything to show us that if we stay together we can get it done.
“I’ll be the first one to step on the soap box and scream, ‘Keep him.’ I believe in him. This is why I’m here. I wanted to play for him.”
WR Stephen Hill was inactive for the game with a knee injury. Hill was downgraded from probable to questionable on Friday and then the coaches ruled him out Sunday. It sounds as if Hill is a question mark for the remainder of the season.
“He’s had swelling [in his knees],” Ryan said. “It’s been the last several weeks. The young man has been competing his tail off, but he’s just not himself. He’s not able to burst out of cuts and things. Quite honestly, as much as he wants it, it’s best for us. … We made a decision to deactivate him this week. Hopefully, he can get back to where he’s feeling like he can make cuts and burst and we’ll see how it works.”
Veteran Raiders safety Charles Woodson on the loss: “It was really embarrassing to be part of it. We looked like ‘The Bad News Bears’ out there. ” …. Jets CB Antonio Cromartie was not permitted by the Jets to speak to the media because of a head injury. … OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson made his 125th consecutive start, the longest streak in Jets history.