On Thursday New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan addressed the media. Here is the transcript courtesy of the Jets.
Opening remarks…
First off, we had great news having the practice, getting guys out there. Halfway through practice I guess everything smoothed over and we were allowed to practice our guys so that was good. But you really want to start today with some bad news. And the bad news is that Jerricho Cotchery is no longer a Jet. That’s tough. There’s no doubt. He is a guy that was a tremendous teammate, and just a guy that I had a great deal of respect for, was just courageous and anything we needed, the guy did for us. It was tough. (Jerricho) asked for a trade or to be released and that’s what happened. It was tough. You hate to see great people leave your building, and we’ve had some. Even the short time I’ve been here, some guys left us and went on and they’re playing well in other places. That’s the tough part about this business. Obviously, you get attached to players and it’s a rough part of this job, there’s no doubt. I wish him well and he’s going to have many more years left playing. With that, we’ll go ahead and open it up for questions.
On why Cotchery asked to be traded or released…
I’m not going to get into everything, I think it’s better off that you ask (Jerricho) and let him answer all those questions.
On if the team had no plans to release or trade Cotchery before he requested those options…
Right.
On whether Cotchery was released for a financial reason…
I don’t feel comfortable about this, that and all the other. Whatever (Jerricho) is comfortable talking about, that’s fine. I know (the media) will talk to him.
On if he was surprised that Cotchery was released…
I probably saw it coming for a little while, but I guess I never wanted to admit it.
On if the Cotchery situation is what he was discussing on the field earlier today with Woody Johnson and Mike Tannenbaum…
We talk about everything. I’m sure that was part of the conversation, but there were other things as well.
On when Cotchery made his request for a trade…
I think it’s more appropriate that (Jerricho) talks to you. I don’t want to give all the particulars. I just want everybody to know what he meant to this team, and what he meant to me.
On free agent WR Derrick Mason’s status with the team…
I’m not sure, we’ll see. Derrick is a tremendous football player. Like I mentioned to you today, a great competitor. So we’ll see, I’d like to have Derrick.
On if they would release Cotchery if Mason hadn’t been signed…
(Cotchery was) here, there’s no guarantee that Derrick Mason was (going to sign). That was not the reason.
On if they worry where Cotchery will sign…
I don’t worry about this team or that team or whatever. Every situation is different I guess. This situation is what it is, and I don’t know what else to tell you.
On if Ryan tried to convince Cotchery to stay…
Yes.
On how the afternoon practice went…
It was great. It really was. I told them that there are few things that we know that I should have gone over with the rookies. First off, make sure you know who you’re up against. So if I’m up against John Conner, I better make sure that I know that. So I don’t know if we have a young man with a concussion or not, but somebody found that out. And then always know that Rob Turner is going to be in the first fight. I thought it would be day two, but of course it was day one. So those are things we know because we’ve been around those two guys and all that, but that’s what happened today. But really it was a great practice. I don’t know if anybody noticed those two rookies that we drafted. I don’t know if we were keeping stats, I’m sure you guys were. But they had two or three sacks apiece and man, we look big. When you see that defense, we have some big dudes out there. Then you add Ropati (Pitoitua), this is a good looking group.
On what Burress was doing during practice…
To be honest with you, you guys would know more about it than I would. When you got a little ankle, whatever, tweaked an ankle, I don’t think running is probably recommended.
On why WR Santonio Holmes did not practice…
He got out there late and it felt like he wasn’t really warmed up, and, again, that was it. He’ll be out there tomorrow.