He's quoted in the Post (I know - but it's an actual quote) saying that very thing: http://nypost.com/2014/08/12/jets-amaro-get-that-mike-ditka-tape-out-of-here/
Jets’ Amaro: Get that Mike Ditka tape out of here By Bart Hubbuch August 12, 2014 | 8:02am Modal Trigger Jets rookie tight end Jace Amaro balked at coach Rex Ryan's suggestion he take cues from a rugged predecessor. Photo: Neil Miller MORE ON: New York Jets With more bravado, Rex Ryan bets dangerously on himself Extra practice portion means trouble for Jets QBs The Jets' desperate move to patch up cornerback position Vick wary of wildcat despite Geno's and Rex's excitement CORTLAND — Rex Ryan’s recent suggestion Jace Amaro get playing tips from old Mike Ditka game film got a chilly reception from the rookie tight end Monday. “I’m not going back 30 years to see how Ditka played,” Amaro told The Post after finishing another day of training camp at SUNY Cortland. “I know the way he played and the kind of character he is.” Ryan offered the suggestion last weekend, after Amaro caught two passes in the Jets’ preseason opener against the Colts. The Jets coach thought Amaro could have had two other receptions if he were more aggressive. “Give him tapes of Mike Ditka or something and say, ‘This is how we want you to play,’ ” Ryan said Saturday. “Recognize you’re a big guy. You need to be a bully out there. When that ball’s thrown up, you’ve got to go catch it. I don’t care where it is.” Ditka was a Hall of Fame tight end for the Bears, Eagles and Cowboys, revolutionizing the position with his combination of toughness, receiving and blocking in an age when tight ends were little more than glorified linemen. Modal Trigger Mike Ditka in action for the Chicago Bears in 1966 against the Green Bay Packers.Photo: AP A second-round pick from Texas Tech, Amaro has endured a rough first NFL training camp, injuring his knee and suffering through some drop-filled practices. Ryan thinks the 6-foot-5, 265-pound Amaro could be just as dominant as Ditka was, but Amaro said he has little use for comparisons. “You don’t really want to look into it too much,” Amaro said “You want to be your own player. You don’t want to [imitate] anyone else who has played. I want to be the guy who someone decades from now says, ‘That guy plays like Amaro.’ ”
yeah, just read that myself...... and thought "wtf" already don't like this kid. Backhanded disrespect to the coach and an all-time great from a rookie who has done less than shit so far.
Hmmm, won't watch film the coach wants him to? Easy solution - at the end each team meeting the entire team gets to watch Ditka film for an hour a day. Could also bring up the aggression level for the rest of the guys.
Sounds like he's not going to see the field much to me. He's getting outplayed daily by an undrafted free agent and when approached by his coach to watch some film to improve himself he rejects it like a punk ass.. nice attitude.
Don't like his attitude. He's a rookie so hopefully the coaches or a veteran can help snap him into place. Not the right attitude if you want to prosper in the NFL, considering all the greats put in crazy amounts of work and studying and then some.
"You want to be your own player. You don’t want to [imitate] anyone else who has played. I want to be the guy who someone decades from now says, ‘That guy plays like Amaro.” Does he think great players didn't take advice from coaching, or watch successful techniques and play styles of other players? As of now, Amaro's style is to struggle on a playbook, drop passes, not be aggressive with the ball in the air, and to block like a schoolgirl. Lose the ego and grow your NFL nuts. Watch, listen, learn and work.
Last time I remember, Amaro wanted to mold his game after Tony Gonzalez, not Ditka. The game is much different now compared to 30 yrs ago. I hope he bites louder than he barks though.
I think you're going alittle too far w/ some of your criticism. Yeah he's struggled w/ the playbook but so has Ebron & anyone else being molded into the "F" position right now.It's a new age position that features alot of presnap reads & adjustments. A far cry from when he was at Texas Tech & could basically run whatever pattern from whatever position he wanted as he was bigger & more agile than anyone else on the field. His problems are clearly mental & it isn't as if he's done nothing while in practice & so far in games. He had a real nice catch & run against Indy. As for the response to Rex..yeah you'd likely prefer the kid to just take Rex's advice or at least just tow the company line. That said..what do you think Mike Ditka would've said when he was a rookie if posed w/ a similar comment from his head coach? I'm not so sure you wouldn't have gotten a similar reaction. Just a thought.
It sure seems like a piss poor attitude doesn't it? I hope Rex drops the hammer on him behind closed doors.
I understand i'm being harsh, and focusing on the negatives of his offseason w/o mentioning the positives. but my criticism is mainly centered around his ego/attitude in correlation to what he's shown as a rookie. He's got a shitload of fundamentals to work on before he shows up his coach to the media, and decides against tape study to refine his craft. "i want people to study tape of me" lol, That's the comment of an arrogant rook who hasn't figured anything out yet. In terms of Ditka, guys in the early 60's didn't contradict their head coaches, especially if your HC was the legendary George Halas. you'd work, listen and learn.
absolutely. he needs to get that attitude in check. remind him a rookie's place, and what it takes to succeed in this league. behind closed doors to the media, absolutely. but maybe in front of the rest of the team to get that message across to all.
if i was Amaro, I would suck up my ego and try to have a chance to play professional football. Do what the coach asks. Enough of this "but..I want to be original" crap. The league has been around for three quarters of a century...nobody is original anymore. Try catching the goddamn ball first.
Oh my God. The nerve of this little pissant. We should cut him right now. He's a bust - I'm calling it right now. The circus continues! Rex was shooting from the hip about wanting Amaro to play bigger and he mentioned giving him tapes of Ditka "or something". Read the quote. The Post then takes it to Amaro and asks "Are you going to watch Ditka tape like Rex told you to?" Amaro responds "I know the way he played and the kind of character [Ditka] is. I want to be great in my own right." Everybody blows a gasket. Jesus people, you bitch about the circus and then do everything to insure that it continues. Rex wants Amaro to be more aggressive and use his size to attack the ball. Rex didn't order him to watch Ditka tape. Amaro said he's well aware of how Ditka played, but wants to leave his own legacy on the game. BFD. Do you really want him watching 50 year old film of Mike Ditka bowling over 190 lb LBs all night instead of learning the fucking playbook? Do you think Amaro would tell Rex to fuck off if Rex sat him in a room and told him to watch tapes of Ditka, McGee, Motley, or any other great TEs? Should we scorn Rex for being out of touch with the modern TE? Why isn't he making Amaro watch tape of Gates, Graham, and Gronk? Oh my, what a waste of a pick!
It may have been the wrong attitude to take but you need to look at what else he said in the same interview. Not trying to make excuses for him but if the guy from the Post was the 8th guy to ask him the same thing he may have been frustrated at that point. Being he is only a 22 year old kid I will give him the benefit of the doubt and hope it is just a one off. If those kind of comments continue then he better make us forget about it with his play on the field even though I would still not be happy about it. Actually just checked again and not sure if it was the same interview
