After saying in a radio interview that he didn't take the job with the Jets "to kiss Bill Belichick's rings," Ryan tried to backtrack to explain he didn't mean to disrespect the Patriots coach with his joke.
“When I said that about Belichick, I’m just letting him know I’m not intimidated by him,” Ryan told the New York Times. “He’s got the same position I have. We’re both head coaches in this league. He just happens to have a hell of a lot of Super Bowl rings. I don’t have a win, and I appreciate you pointing that out."
The Jets went 1-1 against the Patriots last season under Eric Mangini, and even without Tom Brady, the Jets were unable to win the division. Ryan knows how hard it will be this sesaon to take the East with Brady back in the mix, but he made it clear he didn't go to New York to play second fiddle in the division.
“We’re not going to tiptoe our way through this thing. You don’t win and beat a Bill Belichick-coached team by tiptoeing up there," Ryan told the Times. "We’re going to be ourselves, and I’m going to be myself, and that’s just the way it is."
