Crowder and Ryan Locked in War of Words
Stay tuned for "tatted up" Crowder vs. "OTA Champion" Rex Ryan in the Octagon
By TODD WRIGHT
Updated 8:14 PM EST, Tue, Jun 9, 2009
In the bitter rivalry between the Jets and the Dolphins, no unkind word goes unanswered.
A week ago, linebacker Channing Crowder crowned the New York Jets the "OTA Super Bowl Champions" because of all the trash talk coming from the Meadowlands these days and the unwarranted hype before a single meaningful game was played.
Well, first-year coach Rex Ryan didn't take too kindly to Crowder's words and had a Kobe-esque retort.
"I don't know this Channing Crowder," Ryan told New York Newsday. "All I know is that he's all tatted up. He's right about one thing. I'm a first-time head coach, but I've been around the game all my life. I'm no different than I've ever been, just that more people are listening."
All he left out was the "We can settle this in the Octagon" challenge that settles most sports disputes lately.
You can be sure these little sound bites will be trumped up when the two teams meet twice this season, but we don't expect the trash talk to stop with Ryan's rant.
Crowder, who does have about as many tattoos as all sailors of an entire Navy fleet, doesn't back down on the field and has become more than vocal when a mic is thrust in his face.
And Ryan, who was the hard-nosed defensive coordinator for the stingy Baltimore Ravens defense, hasn't made any friends since becoming the head honcho in New York. Understandably, Ryan is trying to instill a little toughness and swagger into a team that didn't make the playoffs last year.
In his first press conference, he called out the Patriots and said the Jets were the favorites to win the Super Bowl. Now he's after the tatted one. Ryan hasn't jabbed at Buffalo, well, because their the Bills.
To settle this once and for all, toss Crowder and Ryan in a cage and may the best Dolphin win.
First Published: Jun 9, 2009 5:14 PM EST
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