The war of words is heating up between the New York Jets and New England Patriots leading up to their AFC Divisional playoff game Sunday afternoon.
First, Jets Coach Rex Ryan questioned Tom Brady’s study habits while praising Peyton Manning. Ryan was quoted by Jenny Vrentas of The Star-Ledger in NJ, “There’s nobody like this guy in the league. Nobody studies like him,” Ryan said. “I know Brady thinks he does. I think there’s probably a little more help with (New England coach Bill) Belichick with Brady than there is with Peyton Manning.”
Then it was Antonio Cromartie calling Tom Brady an “asshole”. Cromartie was quoted in the New York Daily News saying, “We see that a lot. He does it a lot,” Cromartie said. “That’s the kind of guy he is. We really don’t give a damn, to tell you the truth. (Brady’s) an asshole. Fuck him.”
It was enough to make the former king of trash talk MLB Hall of Famer and New York Legend, Reggie Jackson to tell the Jets to shut up and play football. If you’re not familiar with Jackson, this is a man who once said, “I’m the straw that stirs the drink.” His main point was that the Jets should go look at the Patriots trophies and studying game films before they start running their mouths at the best NFL franchise of the past decade.
Until now, the Patriots offered nothing but praise on the Jets. The closest they came to a response was when Brady replied about the asshole comment, “My coach calls me that, maybe (Cromartie) likes me. That is until Wes Welker met his press responsibilities yesterday.
Welker chose his words carefully when during his press conference yesterday. Talking about Tom Brady Welker said, “does a great job of making sure everyone is putting their best foot forward.” He continues, “It’s a playoff atmosphere and you can’t just stick your toe in the water.”
Talking about missing last year’s playoffs, “I had my foot up in the air trying to get the swelling to go down and things like that.” And this year he says you just “go out there and put your best foot forward.”
Welker goes on to say Jets cornerback Derrelle Revis, “has great feet…he has good feet. He moves around very well.”
Are you starting to notice a pattern? It goes on for nine minutes of Wes Welker deadpanning his way through a multitude of foot references, he’s talking about player’s feet, staying on your toes, putting your best foot forward, in the importance of being a good foot soldier.
While never directly calling out Rex Ryan and his foot fetish, he delivers the ether to the Jets and Rex Ryan.
This will be a hell of a game, if you don’t have your bets down get them in now, the Patriots are -9 point favorites.
Watch the full Wes Welker Press Conference
