Rex Ryan doesn’t buy Mike Pettine’s playbook allegations
Rex Ryan attempted to clear things up after Mike Pettine threw the football world for a whirl by accusing Nick Saban of giving the Jets playbook to his old friend Bill Belichick.
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“I get it, because I gave a defensive playbook to Nick Saban when he came here and spent four or five days with us,” Ryan said. “One thing I know for a fact: No. 1, I think it’s disrespectful to New England to say, ‘Oh, they did this.’ I can tell you every single game we’ve ever had with New England has been decided on the field.”
Ryan has staunchly supported Belichick this offseason, stating over that he respects the Patriots head coach. There’s no bad blood between New England and New York — not green blood at least. In wake of the Spygate scandal following the 2007 season, people have been quick to jump on Bill Belichick as a cheater. Someone who prioritizes winning over following the rules. Rex Ryan thinks that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
“To discredit somebody like Belichick, who is a real coach, studies his butt off, is ridiculous,” Ryan said, via ESPN New York. ” … The times they beat us, they’ve outperformed us.”
Saban had to take time off from his vacation to make a statement and deny Pettine’s comments.
Pettine said during his interview with MMQB.com that Brady had said at Wes Welker’s wedding the Patriots had a gotten ahold of the playbook. He joked that it was a matter of time before his own playbook ended up in New England.