Play like you mean it...more quotes

"I tell my children to be confident. Why not? If you set your standards low, what are they odds you're going to achieve at a high level? If there's no pressure to win, why coach?"


"Sanchez loves Seth; Seth is like his little brother. They text-message each other all the time. Mark went to every one of Seth's freshman football games, home and away."


"A guy like Darrelle Revis won't give Seth any slack either. He has knocked Seth to the ground on a completion. One time, Darrelle stepped on Seth's shoe while Seth ran a route and the kid still caught the ball in front of Revis. Revis was pissed. So Seth has that on his resume: Caught a ball in front of All Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis."


"I am so blessed, so thankful, and so appreciative to have such a wonderful wife and a wonderful family. I am also hopeful that Peyton and Seth look up to me the same way I look up to my father to his very day."


"I was unaware of being dyslexic for so long, that having this disability drove me to work harder, to use my strengths- and that let me down this path. It's my own personal kind of meeting with Darwin, I suppose. Either you sink or you swim."


"When I'm in, I'm all in, and I'm completely devoted. It could be tarring roofs or coaching a bunch of midgets in New Mexico, regardless- I give it everything."


"..they have Chad Ochocinco, who's a pain in the ass to cover and just drives you nuts with all his talk and antics when he gets going. I love it, but you do want to shut him up. He definitely gets the juices going."


"You have to have a joy with everything you do in life. You can't half-ass it and expect to get the most out of it...you don't do that to get rich. You do that because you love it."


"Players see that what we're talking about is totally honest. We're putting it on the line. Players see the difference. They figure it out pretty fast if you're not giving it everything you can."


"There's another very simple, key idea I believe in: In order to succeed in the NFL, you have to have fun. You have to live by your love of this game." 


"I want to have guys be excited, where they can't wait to come to practice, to get to the building or the stadium and enjoy playing a game."

Play like you mean it...

So I am in the process of reading Jets head coach Rex Ryan's book "Play like you mean it...passion, laughs and leadership in the world's most beautiful game" and I am going to be posting some of my favorite/memorable quotes as I read!!Enjoy =]

"..I said let's play for it again, let's win it and let's do it in our city, at our stadium, in front of our fans. I wanted them to wear their Jets gear and be proud. We finished top four in the NFL, we turned an underdog team into an AFC title contender, and we earned the respect and support of the people in New York. I mean, they lit up the Empire State Building green and white the week of the AFC Championship game. If that didn't make my players proud to be Jets, then they shouldn't be on this team."

"..I knew Hard Knocks was going to generate interest. Not everyone was going to like it, and that's fine; that's what remote controls are for. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't like our name constantly in the press. People were talking about us, and that's really all that mattered. We were exactly where we wanted to be. We put ourselves in a position where we had no other choice but to prove ourselves...I felt challenged by all the media attention, and I LOVE a challenge."

"New England is a great team; everyone knows that. But this night, we were greater."

"...I think it's virtually important to have fun with what you do - especially if you're lucky, like me, to have a job you really love."

"Actually, they better haul ass to the football. That's what I want on every single play, every single down. Make a statement. Knock the snot out of somebody. Not only do I want big hits, which set the tone, but I also want turnovers that are generated from those big hits..."

"For us, it's not enough just to stop our opponent; we want to 'traumatize' them from both ends. Ultimately, you have to score."

"There are players out there who think they are badasses, and you just might see two of our players knock the hell out of him. Pow! Pow! That's our mentality. Everything we do is aggressive and hey, we may make a mistake, but we will go one hundred miles per hour and we will knock the hell out of you. Big hits create turnovers. You haven't been Punked - you've been Dotted!"

"I think it's imporant to not do everything by the book- that's what makes it work. I still have a lot of little kid in me, but I also don't bullshit people. Never have, never will. I won't piss on you and tell you it's raining.."

"When the United States got involved in Korea, my dad went over there as a teenager. When he was 18, Buddy was in the Korean War. When I was 18, I was trying to figure out where to buy beer in college."

Onto the next one

I am still in shock over last nights game. Did the Jets really beat Peyton Manning and the Colts??
Yes, yes they did!! Gang Green left it to the last second (as always) and gave Jets fan a helluva win- and also a mini heart attack!

As I watched the Colts kick a field goal, and take the lead, I thought "no way can the Jets win, Folk isn't that good of a kicker and our season ends right here" but man was I wrong. All of my friends were saying "Christina think positively, the Jets will win" as I was already accepting defeat. With 4 seconds left Folk comes out and kicks the game winning field goal- which came pretty close to hitting the post- but the Jets did it! They finished their business from last year (when the Colts beat them) and the look on Manning's face was priceless. I got pure joy out of seeing him so destroyed.

Winning a game in the playoffs is great, but the road to the Super Bowl is far from over for the Jets. In a week from today they face Tom Brady and the New England Patriots- enough said. I hate to admit this but Brady is a tremendous quarterback. Whenever he has the ball he always gets points on the board, no matter the situation. The Jets need to step up their game and remember how bad the Patriots embarrassed them in order to get this win.

3 great match ups of this rivalry, 2 great coaches and quarterbacks, 1 great victory- who will it be? It all comes down to Sunday at 4pm in Foxborough, MA.

Jets will fly over the Fins

December 12, 2010 - the NY Jets will host the Miami Dolphins in this AFC East rivalry game. The Jets are 9-3 and just coming off a embarrassing loss to the New England Patriots. Miami is 6-6 and playing for their pride and to beat a division team. 

Monday night was a night I wish to erase from my memory as a Jets fan. Watching the Jets lose to the Pats was like watching a Varsity team hand their freshman team a whooping (and a big lesson).  #1 lesson learned: Tom Brady needs to be sacked more, because whenever you give him time in the pocket he will give you touchdowns. #2 lesson learned: Schottenheimer really doesn't know what plays to call as the Jets offensive coordinator. This was crystal clear on Monday night. #3 lesson learned: If your team talks big, they need to back it up or else they become embarrassed and the joke of the town. This was proven to the Jets because their coaches and players were talking up and big- while the Pats remained silent. Talking didn't get the Jets a win, so maybe they should take that hint. 

You can't dwell on the past forever, and the Jets did just that. This week at practice Coach Rex Ryan took the ball from the game and buried it into the ground. "He threw the ball in the hole. It was a funeral for the game ball. That might be the best I ever saw, I never seen a coach do that. You usually hear a coach say Lets bury this game, but Rex actually buried it. Everybody was in shock, nobody said anything," cornerback Darrell Revis said. 

Rex also said "we're burying this game and what happened Monday night, let's move forward." As much as I hated losing that game, I bet it put a fire under the Jets- and gave them more motivation that ever before. 

In order to win I think the Jets need to call the right plays and defense needs to be on target. Also, Mark Sanchez needs to be accurate and confident in throwing the ball. If they win this game, it will give them a boost of confidence for the next 3 games and it will also get them into playoff potential!

(Information via http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi f=/g/a/2010/12/08/fanhouserexryanburiesgamebal.DTL)

Big blue welcomes the Fins

So this week the New York Giants let the Miami Dolphins use their indoor practice facilities, and this is a little bit odd considering the New York Jets play Miami this Sunday in NJ. 
For those of you who don't follow football, the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins are in the same division- the AFC East. The division consists of the New England Patriots, the Buffalo Bills, the NY Jets and Miami Dolphins. Currently, the Patriots are on top being 10-2, the Jets are 9-3, Miami is 6-6 and Buffalo is 2-10. 
The Giants never told the Jets about Miami using their field, which is a little shady. The Dolphins claim they are using the facilities because the team is going to see Broadways Lombardi show before the game and they'd need a place to practice. John Mara, co-owner of the Giants, says "I did not consider it a big deal, I have been in business a long time and I would not consider it a big deal if another team was using the Jets' facility. In retrospect, I wish I would have called Woody and asked him about it first because my relationship with him and the Jets is far more important to me and this organization than my relationship with the Dolphins." 
The Dolphins will not be able to use their outdoor field or their locker room, but they are letting them use their indoor field for free. Mara said it is "common courtesy" and "again, I did not consider it big deal. Apparently, it is a slow enough news day that it has become a big deal." 
When Jets coach Rex Ryan was asked about this, he responded with "It's their facility, they can do anything they want with it. I don't want anyone using our facility but us. This is our facility, I'd feel funny. When we have the Super Bowl (at the Meadowlands in 2014) I'mg going to make sure we're in it because I don't want anyone in our facility but us."
I agree with Rex Ryan and I think it's strange that all of the sudden the Giants are lending a hand to Miami. Since when did these two organizations become best buds? Oh wait, I know - since the Jets took over the spotlight in New York!! I think the Gmen did this because they are a little green with envy and jealousy (no pun intended, lol), over the fact the Jets have blown up. The Giants aren't the only good NY team, and it's getting to them. So they did this for some media attention and to show the Jets whose boss. Well, to the NY Giants, the Jets will truly show you who is boss when they get into the playoffs and you are watching them from your comfortable couches! 
(Oh and I highly doubt the Giants wouldn't be mad if the Jets lent their field to the Cowboys or Eagles - two of their division enemies!)


(Information via http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2010/12/08/sports/doc4d0060e5759a5820489929.txt and http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/08/dolphins-to-practice-at-giants-facility-so-team-can-see-lombar/)

As much as it hurts...

I am really not that upset about the Jets loosing last night. You win some, you loose some. And Brady and the Pats were on fire last night, nobody could’ve stopped them. I am content with the fact we have already beat them, and I am sure we will see them again (and when we do, we will be prepared and ready to kick ass). Rex’s defense was looking weak, and don’t even get me started on offense. In order for us to even have a shot, Brady needed to be under pressure and sacked more- and that didn’t happen. You can’t give Brady time, because then he will give you touchdowns. He is a machine at that. As for Sanchez, he made some stupid plays but he is still learning and growing. Personally, I think Schotty has a lot to do with it but hey for some reason the Jets like him. I think he is terrible at his job and he only got it because of his father. 

Being a Jets fan my entire life, I know this feeling. The Jets have a great winning streak, then loose a game miserably. But then they get right back on track. So let’s not focus to much on yesterday’s game and lets focus on the next couple of games to come. We play Sunday against Miami (at home, which hopefully the cold weather will bother the fins) so let’s stay positive about a win there. After Miami we play the Steelers, Bears and Bills- so we have to stay focused and not let little mistakes bring us down. We are our own worst enemy at that. 

Rex Ryan said after the game: “Let’s face it, we kicked their butt at our place. They were trying to come back. Trust me, we’ll remember this. There’s not question about that.”

I couldn't agree more with Bart Scott: “We don’t want anybody to feel sorry for us. We’ll take our medicine and we deserve whatever comments are written about us and who we are and what we are. We’ve got big shoulders and we’ll take it and we’ll move forward. I’m not flinching and I’m sure these guys here aren’t flinching. We still have a lot to play for. We’re still a good football team and hopefully we get an opportunity to see them again."

Jets vs. the Browns

So today the New York JETS play the Cleveland Browns at 1pm. It's a brother vs. brother game - Rex Ryan (Jets Coach) vs Rob Ryan (D coordinator for the Browns)! Rex pulled a little comedy show during his press conference, dressing up as his brother and joking around. But in all seriousness, the Jets better win.

The Browns are 3-5 but they are just coming off a big win against the New England Patriots, and they don't play like a loosing team. So they probably will still have that fire/ass kicking momentum. As for the Jets, they are 6-2 but just barely beat the Detroit Lions (I got to hand it to the Lions though, they played with a lot of heart and they are much better than 2-6)! So I hope the Jets can find a way to pump themselves up for this game!!

I still don't like Schottenheimer, but I hope for this game him & Mark Sanchez have their act together. I say that every game and rarely does it happen, lol! And I hope the Jets work on not getting as many penalties, because this seems to be a growing trend for them.


J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!!

Did the Jets dress up as the Bills for Halloween?

I know the Jets are just getting off a bye week, but that is no excuse to play like they did today. I was actually ashamed to be a Jets fan, I already stripped this game from my memory lol! 

Mark Sanchez and Brian Schottenheimer - where do I even begin? Schotty, I am sorry but you need to either a) step up your play calling or b) get fired. I am hoping for option b...! I hate how he calls all the wrong plays at the worst possible time. I can tell you what the Jets offense does. 1st down run, 2nd down run, 3rd down throw (of course they don't make the first down), 4th down punt. The end! Schotty never calls good plays. He always puts a 3d down play in a 1st down spot or vice-versa. And it drives me insane!! I pretty much think I can do a better job as offensive coordinator than he can. And to be fair to Sanchez, he has a good arm and when HE calls the plays they go well! So let the 2nd year QB call the right plays and take your team to the Suberbowl!! 

Jerricho Cotchery -today wasn't your day buddy. You couldn't hold onto the ball for anything. I don't even know why they threw to you. Everybody knew you were getting the ball and you couldn't complete a pass! It was torture watching you struggle.

Santonio Holmes and Dustin Keller - I forgot you two were even Jets! They barely used you today. This bothers me because you are both phenomenal play makers and we needed a spark like you today! Note to Schotty: THROW TO HOLMES AND DK!

I really hope this game today sparks a fire under these Jets booties! I want to be on top of the AFC!! Lets go JETS.

Revis should stay on his Island

I am not a fan of Darrelle Revis. In my opinion, the Jets payed him way to much money (considering he was still under contract) and he isn't worth it. He got hurt a couple weeks ago, because he wasn't in the rhythm of playing football - since he took off all of summer training camp! And he hasn't been his normal self ever since. He is usually good and on top of his opponents. It annoys me how Jet fans put him on a very high pedestal. He isn't a cornerback God. The Jets defense is great without Revis, so stop acting like we need him so much. I actually like Antonio Cromartie more than Revis, he is less of a talker and more of an action taker. 

Someone else who shocked me is Dwight Lowery. He will come out of nowhere and basically win the game for you (he has already done it twice this season). He is a secret weapon who everyone overlooks because the Jets roster is full of football stars, and I love it.

Vinny and the Cowboys

The other day my Dad told me a very inspirational story. 

He goes to a cigar bar and most of the guys there are into football. There are Giant, Jets and Cowboy fans there, and they all like to have a good time and watch the games together. One of the Cowboys fans is named Vinny, he is a little special mentally and he works for East Brunswick High School (doing technical/electrical things). 

Once a year Vinny buys tickets to a game in Dallas along with the flight and hotel accommodations. Vinny bought 2 tickets to the October 25th Monday night game versus the New York Giants and of course he was very excited to go (they are rivals after all!) 

While taking his mom to chemotherapy, Vinny spotted a ten-year-old boy wearing all Cowboys apparel from head to toe (also receiving chemotherapy). He went up to the little boy and asked if he was a Cowboys fan, the little boy said yes. Vinny then asked if the boy has ever been to a game in Dallas and the boy responded no, and his father added that it is very expensive and they are having a tough time affording the chemo. Vinny told them to hold on, and he left to get something. Minutes later Vinny returned with the 2 tickets to the Monday night game, along with his flight and hotel accommodations,  and gave it to the boy and his father. The boy was beyond excited and very thankful that Vinny did that for him.

My father and I tried contacting the Dallas Cowboys to see if they could do anything for the boy but we hardly got responses. The only response I got was on Twitter from Jesse Holley saying "wow that is a great story!!" I just wish that corporations had more heart and understood what this boy goes through everyday, and could've done something to take his experience to the next level. 

It honestly baffles me that people like Vinny do such nice things for people, and "normal" people with no problems are selfish and take everything for granted. You will never get anywhere in the world if you don't help others. Not only is it a great thing, but there is such pleasure in knowing you made somebodies life a little bit better.  And as a football fan, I hope more fans do things like this for each other. 

New York - New York Superbowl

So lately I've been hearing all this talk about the Superbowl possibly being NY-NY, the Jets vs. the Giants. Unlike most people, I doubt this will happen any time soon. 


I would like to hope that someday soon the Jets will go to the Superbowl (and win) but the Jets team and coaches all need to be on the same page. Yes, the Jets are doing great this year but they can always use improvements. One point is the offensive line and coordinator. I do not think Brian Schottenheimer is good for Sanchez or the Jets, but that is a whole discussion on it's own, lol.


The Giants are good, but Superbowl worthy? I do no think so. They have their ups and downs but I don't think this year is the year for big blue.


Most of the Jets players are not even concerned with the Giants (via ESPN http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5734739)


Damien Woody said, "I know we do a good job of talking about the Super Bowl and all that stuff but I have too many worries on my hands to think about the Giants. I can't worry about what the Giants have going on."


"No disrespect to the New York Giants," said Darrelle Revis, "but I don't pay attention to them. We have a lot of stuff here we want to accomplish. I don't think anyone in our locker room should be focused on what the Giants are doing."


Coach Rex Ryan stated, "I'll dream about the Super Bowl ... but the opponent doesn't matter to me. It could be the Giants, it could be Dallas, it could be anybody. As long as we're there, I could care less who we play."


There are 9 more weeks left in the regular season and anything can happen...but I think a NY/NY Superbowl is a little far fetched lol!