FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Rex likes Mike. Bart likes Ben. Bart's teammates like Ben so much that it sounds like they want to adopt him. Wait a second; the New York Jets are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday for the AFC championship, and they're -- brace yourself -- lobbing bouquets instead of grenades? Where is the hate? It's still early, and things could change, but the Jets apparently spewed their last drops of venom last week toward the New England Patriots. They used last month's 45-3 embarrassment and perceived slights by Tom Brady as fuel, lashing out in the media at the Belichick Boys. ([+] Bart Scott AP Photo/Chris GardnerBen Roethlisberger drew praise for getting rocked by then-Raven Bart Scott and saying, "Nice hit, Bart.") Nose tackle Sione Pouha said Monday that preparing for the Patriots was like "sharpening up our sword for battle." The Jets won that battle, won it as impressively as they've won anything in 40 years, and now it's on to Pittsburgh for the right to advance to Super Bowl XLV in Dallas. But something was missing on Day 1 of championship hype, and that something was the usual chip on the Jets' shoulder. There was confidence, sure, but there was no tough talk, and that probably will have concerned fans wondering whether the Jets subconsciously believe they won their championship in Foxborough. Rex Ryan himself called it the second-biggest win in franchise history, after Super Bowl III in 1969, so how do you top that? You win the Super Bowl, of course -- and that should be the only motivation any team needs at this point in the season. But it still was a bit weird to not hear the usual bravado from the Jets' bunker. There's no payback factor for the Jets, who defeated the Steelers last month at Heinz Field 22-17. There's also no divisional-rivalry factor, although Ryan and Bart Scott faced the Steelers enough times in their years with the Baltimore Ravens to build up bad feelings toward them. But there was only peace and love on Day 1. Ryan actually joked about calling out the Steelers' Hines Ward and Casey Hampton just to spice it up. "It's a different feel," said Ryan, who appeared subdued (for him) after the biggest win of his career. "Like I said last week, Bill Belichick had dominated me the time before. I was just like, 'Man, that's not going to happen. No way is that going to happen to me again.'" This week, the Jets might have to manufacture something to keep them angry because, let's face it, they play better when they're ticked off. That's their personality, and there's nothing wrong with that. Maybe Darrelle Revis can call Ward a slouch. Maybe Antonio Cromartie can call Ben Roethlisberger a bleeping a-----. Maybe Scott can threaten to punch out the entire Steelers offensive line. Then again, maybe not. Cromartie already is on record as saying Roethlisberger is a good dude. Yawn. Ryan got a little warm and fuzzy as he described his fondness for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. He recalled a game from 2007, when Tomlin didn't try to run up the score against Ryan's banged-up Baltimore defense. The Steelers jumped to a 35-0 lead, but instead of pulling a Belichick, they ran the ball on 21 of 28 plays in the second half. "He wasn't going to try to rub our nose in it," said Ryan, delivering a veiled shot at Belichick and Brady for the 45-3 beatdown. Ryan related a story within the story, about how Scott -- upset that the Steelers' fullback was running his mouth during the blowout -- went to Tomlin and asked him to reinsert the fullback into the game. According to Ryan, Tomlin said to Scott, "Bart, you want him? You want a piece of him?" Scott, of course, said yes. So Tomlin sent his fullback (Ryan couldn't remember his name) back into the game, and he ended up with a separated shoulder. AFC Championship "That's one of my favorite stories, and it told me a lot about Mike Tomlin," Ryan said, smiling. Ryan said he respects Belichick more than any other coach in the league, but that respect is based on accomplishment, not personal affection. It's different with Tomlin, and it's different with Roethlisberger. The Jets raved about his toughness, his willingness to stand in the pocket and take hits. You didn't hear them saying that last week about Brady. "He plays like a man," Scott said of Big Ben. Trevor Pryce, another former Raven, recalled a time when Roethlisberger got blown up by Scott in a Pittsburgh-Baltimore game and actually turned to Scott and said, "Nice hit, Bart." Stuff like that earns the respect of opponents. Pryce called Roethlisberger a "genetic freak," adding that it's an "honor and a privilege to play against him, it really is." Honor? Privilege? Could the Jets be trash-talked out? Say it ain't so. http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/columns/story?columnist=cimini_rich&id=6031778
This isn't trash talked out, this is the fact that the Steelers play the same way the Jets do.... or is that the other way around? They aren't a division rival and the Jets have already beat them. If you are embarrassed 45-3 on national TV, you'll talk all the shit they did last week. This week its business as usual. Mike Tomlin is an awesome dude, so this doesn't shock me.
The goal is clear....finish what you started last year. I don't think there's anything at all to worry about when it comes to having a "chip on ther shoulders"
plain and simple rex, bart and comp use to talk tons of shit to the steelers with the ravens. all it got them was more losses and guys knocked the fuck out. the steelers have highlight films of just knocking ravens out. they are not the pats or colts they will make you pay. last game rex and bart were still in balt they watched mcgehee almost get killed, cory ivy get knocked stupid. im surprised fatass and big mouth actually learned something. plus little bart is deathly afraid of hines lmao
I have to admit my fear was that the Pats game was going to be looked at as our SB and that maybe we would'nt have the same intensity in that game as we had against the Pats. Then I started thinking about LT,Holmes,Jason Taylor,Tony Richardson and I realized that's why you bring in guys like that. They aren't going to let this team feel like it has accomplished anything. Especially Rex,I know he will have our guys ready to go to war. I'm feeling pretty good about our team.I know it's not going to be easy but I really feel like this is our time.
I hope nobody finds this surprising. The Jets aren't the freewheeling unprovoked shit-talkers that the media makes them out to be.
Everyone hates the Jets because they talk too much. Now the articles on wondering why they're not talking smack. You can't win w/ the media.
Big Ben and the Steelers hopefully come out lax and we come out with a sound plan. We need to hit him. Honestly, we need another strong performance from our OL and DL...This game might be decided in the trenches
He may be a moron, but he is right. When teams come out talking trash to the Steelers, they sit and stew in it. It motivates all of them, gets them to come together in an us against the world mentality. They play MUCH better, much more focused, with a greater intensity. Rex knows it. Holmes knows it. Why feed the fire? IMO, it is just smart football.
There's simply no reason to talk shit to the Steelers. There's no animosity between the teams from being division rivals or from prior playoff games. Maybe in a few years if we continue to meet in the playoffs there will be something. The Jets would look like retards for talking shit to the Steelers. Not only that, but I think their reaction would be more like what happened to Bart Scott than what happened to those faggots in NE.
The same goes for the Jets. Apparently Tomlin has put a gag order on just because of that reason. It was my contention that all of last week was head games aimed mostly at Brady. It was that and constant pressure that got us to where we are now. Each week presents a different set of circumstances obviously, this week will be a game of mutual respect and won or less on the field only. Jets look to be playing inspired football and the Steelers had to take out a Ravens team whose D has been struggling to hold leads. The regular season means jackshit obviously but based on that and the way our defense is playing right now I don't see how we lose. I was hoping for the Ravens simply because of our revenge tour but I also think they were the more well rounded team. The Ravens recent play was not too threatening though. When we played the first time Ben had his worst completion percentage of the year, and that was with Eric Smith out and Pool/Lowery still fresh in their roles. Eric Smith and Pool have been HUGE for us in both playoff games as well as Lowery. Ben may be many things but he's not Tom Brady. With a mix of Man coverage on the outside, zone over the middle and getting much needed pressure against a better oline then Pitt's we rattled Tom. There were plays where we didn't get pressure but held coverage for 8 seconds and the play resulted in nothing. If we keep playing like I know we can I'm going to be one happy MF'r.
