Rex Ryan yesterday called Patriots quarterback Tom Brady “a smart guy” for praising the Jets and saying the AFC East won’t be a walkover for New England this season.
“We have only one goal and that’s to win the Super Bowl,” Ryan told 1050 ESPN Radio. “And that’s what we plan on doing this year.”
Brady, in an interview with Sports Illustrated, gushed about the Jets’ prospects this season.
“They’re always a team that gives us problems, and they’ve sure made a lot of changes this offseason,” said Brady, whose team has won the division six out of the last seven years. “When your arch-rivals do as much as they’ve done, you’ve got to pay attention. . . . To win the division, we’ll really have to earn it this year.”
With the additions of LaDainian Tomlinson, Jason Taylor, Antonio Cromartie and Santonio Holmes, Ryan said he expects Gang Green will be special.
“We know it’s going to be a great challenge,” Ryan said. “We’re working so hard in the offseason. I think we’ve gotten better in the offseason as far as the personnel is concerned. We added a lot of guys that I think will help us.”
Ryan also challenged two players to slim down before training camp.
Yesterday, he began a contest with defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and offensive tackle Damien Woody to see who can lose the most weight by July 30, the day before the team reports for training camp.
Ryan says he has lost about 40 pounds since his lap-band procedure and is down to 311, but wants to reach 275. Jenkins, recovering from left knee surgery, is listed at 360, while Woody is at 330.
According to Ryan, the winner will earn a donation to his favorite charity.