Hours Before Kickoff: Week 5

Don’t believe a word Rex Ryan says. The brash New York Jets head coach apparently likes the sound of his own voice and doesn’t have an off switch.

OK, so sometimes Ryan is funny. That’s why the media loves him. Whether he’s making fun of his twin brother while wearing a wig or challenging an opposing linebacker to a fight, Ryan says things other coaches won’t.

But after a while…enough already! The shtick gets tired. Especially when you’re constantly the butt of his jokes.

The latest volley comes in the form of a hall of fame jacket make to look like it’s from Southwestern Oklahoma State Univeristy. Ryan recently received a letter inducting him to the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

To celebrate, Ryan sported what looked like a homemade sport coat with the school’s logo as he declared this edition of the Patriot-Jets rivalry as a confrontation between hall of fame coaches, as New England’s Bill Belichick received the same honor from Wesleyan University.

The histrionics could be viewed to a degree as a compliment to Belichick, but at the same time it feels like it was delivered backhandedly.

And that’s the trick about Ryan. This isn’t about whether the talk is believable or not. The exaggerations, or better yet the Rexaggerations, seem playful, but there is a point to it.

Ryan will fluff egos before pulling the rug out from under his victims. Other times he riles people up to distraction. He’ll brag and boast to get under your skin. All just to get in your head.

For the third year in a row Ryan declared that he believed the Jets would win the Super Bowl. Doesn’t that make you wanna sock Ryan in the mouth and shut him up? But if your attention is at him, you’re not paying attention to the job on the field.

Ryan calls Belichick the best coach in the league. That doesn’t stop Ryan from taunting Belichick with a mock jacket on, comparing accolades from alma maters. Even before the season started Ryan threw jabs by challenging the rest of the league to beat the Patriots. Ryan knows exactly what he’s doing when it comes to rankling.

It got to WR Wes Welker last season. In a press conference leading up to the playoff game, Welker made several references to feet. It was a somewhat subtle dig at Ryan after a video featuring Ryan’s wife and the voice of a portrayed police officer that sounded like Rex expressing an attraction towards Michelle’s feet.

While the release of the personal video wasn’t a prop by Ryan, Welker took the bait because he tired of Ryan’s jabbering over the years.

Mission accomplished by Ryan. Welker was benched by Belichick to start the game and Welker was held to 57 yards in a Jets 28-21 win. Whether the distraction was the difference in the game or not doesn’t matter as much as it was a distraction.

Sunday will be sixth meeting between the teams since Ryan became the Jets’ head coach. New York players jawed all week while the Pats refused to reply to all the banter. Belichick’s orders. Playing the Jets is hard enough. But if the Patriots lose the mental battle, losing the game might not be far behind.

A few things I’m looking for:

Up the Sleeves: New York saves their best tricks for this rivalry. New England has to be on their toes for gadget plays at any time. Watch out for field goal or punt blocks.

Double Clutch: In a small sample of Jets QB Mark Sanchez, big things happen when he hesitates to throw the ball, whether it’s a big gain or a horrible turnover.

That’s Mr. Ochocinco: Ryan clowned Chad Ochocinco by saying he was a better receiver as Chad Johnson. Make Ryan know your name with a big performance.

It should be a wild back and forth game. Eventually the momentum shifts the Patriots’ way and stays with them as they grind out a close win.