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d'brickashaw talking tough now
D'Brickashaw Ferguson adopts same confidence as Jets coach Rex Ryan
BY RICH CIMINI
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...08-06_dbrickashaw_ferguson.html#ixzz0NPJE83Ck
CORTLAND, N.Y. - Now it's official: Rex Ryan's unabashed confidence has permeated the entire team.
It has turned D'Brickashaw Ferguson, the cerebral, unassuming, cliché-loving left tackle, into a fire-breathing quote machine. He has gone from HarryPotter to Dirty Harry, talking tough. He guaranteed his first Pro Bowl season.
All because he got Rexed.
"I'm adopting that philosophy," Ferguson said Wednesday between practices at SUNY-Cortland. "When I say I'm going to the Pro Bowl thisyear, I honestly mean it. When I say we're going to win the Super Bowl, I honestly mean that, too.
"You have to have a plan. This isn't wishing. Instead of always being in a hopeful situation - like, 'I hope one day ...' - let's claim itnow."
Under Ryan, the days of the bland leading the bland are over. In his introductory news conference, he predicted a trip to the White House (as Super Bowlchamps, not as tourists), the first of many bold statements. His attitude has trickled down the roster, emboldening players to speak their minds without fearof recrimination. Take that, Eric Mangini.
Safety Kerry Rhodes predicted the Jets will have the No. 1 defense in the NFL. Kicker Jay Feely said the same thing about the special teams. Ryan believes hecould have the best offensive line, the best running-back tandem and, yes, he agrees with all the high expectations for the defense, his baby.
Some might snicker, saying a team that has gone four seasons without a playoff win should keep its trap shut, but the players believe that bravado is essentialto success.
"When you have a coach who is unafraid to say what he believes, you're going to have a team that is unafraid to make mistakes," Feely said."That's when you play your best. ...Rex breeds that. He wants players to play with a confidence and a chip on their shoulders, so you're going tosee a lot of that."
The Jets know there's a certain opponent to the north (hint: three Super Bowl titles) that probably is clearing space on its bulletin board for the quotesbeing spewed by Ryan & Co. And they're okay with that.
"You know they're going to use it," Rhodes said of the Patriots. "We've been talking, and that's fine, but we've got players whohave been successful in this league and know how to back it up. I think we'll be ready when that comes."
That's Week 2, when the Patriots invade the Meadowlands. Maybe Bill Belichick will wear one of his Super Bowl rings - you know, the rings Ryan has said herefuses to kiss.
It can be a dangerous thing, chirping in the NFL, but maybe the Jets need that mentality after last season's collapse. They lost four of their last fivegames under Mangini, blowing a gimme playoff berth.
"Anybody who was here last year feels like we let a great opportunity slip through our fingers, and we didn't finish," Feely said. "I thinkthat's still in the back of our minds."
On some levels, Ferguson symbolizes the recent fortunes of the team - talented, but missing a certain intangible that separates also-rans from champions. Now,perhaps, he has found it, that swagger that Ryan loves to see in his players.
"Rex Ryan is definitely a very confident individual and, when you have someone who believes firmly in what he's speaking, you naturally absorbit," Ferguson said. "You begin to take on the mentality of your coach. If he feels so confident, then I feel confident."
i like how rex got these guys thinking even though everyones gonna laugh at em, gotta show and prove .......
D'Brickashaw Ferguson adopts same confidence as Jets coach Rex Ryan
BY RICH CIMINI
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...08-06_dbrickashaw_ferguson.html#ixzz0NPJE83Ck
CORTLAND, N.Y. - Now it's official: Rex Ryan's unabashed confidence has permeated the entire team.
It has turned D'Brickashaw Ferguson, the cerebral, unassuming, cliché-loving left tackle, into a fire-breathing quote machine. He has gone from HarryPotter to Dirty Harry, talking tough. He guaranteed his first Pro Bowl season.
All because he got Rexed.
"I'm adopting that philosophy," Ferguson said Wednesday between practices at SUNY-Cortland. "When I say I'm going to the Pro Bowl thisyear, I honestly mean it. When I say we're going to win the Super Bowl, I honestly mean that, too.
"You have to have a plan. This isn't wishing. Instead of always being in a hopeful situation - like, 'I hope one day ...' - let's claim itnow."
Under Ryan, the days of the bland leading the bland are over. In his introductory news conference, he predicted a trip to the White House (as Super Bowlchamps, not as tourists), the first of many bold statements. His attitude has trickled down the roster, emboldening players to speak their minds without fearof recrimination. Take that, Eric Mangini.
Safety Kerry Rhodes predicted the Jets will have the No. 1 defense in the NFL. Kicker Jay Feely said the same thing about the special teams. Ryan believes hecould have the best offensive line, the best running-back tandem and, yes, he agrees with all the high expectations for the defense, his baby.
Some might snicker, saying a team that has gone four seasons without a playoff win should keep its trap shut, but the players believe that bravado is essentialto success.
"When you have a coach who is unafraid to say what he believes, you're going to have a team that is unafraid to make mistakes," Feely said."That's when you play your best. ...Rex breeds that. He wants players to play with a confidence and a chip on their shoulders, so you're going tosee a lot of that."
The Jets know there's a certain opponent to the north (hint: three Super Bowl titles) that probably is clearing space on its bulletin board for the quotesbeing spewed by Ryan & Co. And they're okay with that.
"You know they're going to use it," Rhodes said of the Patriots. "We've been talking, and that's fine, but we've got players whohave been successful in this league and know how to back it up. I think we'll be ready when that comes."
That's Week 2, when the Patriots invade the Meadowlands. Maybe Bill Belichick will wear one of his Super Bowl rings - you know, the rings Ryan has said herefuses to kiss.
It can be a dangerous thing, chirping in the NFL, but maybe the Jets need that mentality after last season's collapse. They lost four of their last fivegames under Mangini, blowing a gimme playoff berth.
"Anybody who was here last year feels like we let a great opportunity slip through our fingers, and we didn't finish," Feely said. "I thinkthat's still in the back of our minds."
On some levels, Ferguson symbolizes the recent fortunes of the team - talented, but missing a certain intangible that separates also-rans from champions. Now,perhaps, he has found it, that swagger that Ryan loves to see in his players.
"Rex Ryan is definitely a very confident individual and, when you have someone who believes firmly in what he's speaking, you naturally absorbit," Ferguson said. "You begin to take on the mentality of your coach. If he feels so confident, then I feel confident."
i like how rex got these guys thinking even though everyones gonna laugh at em, gotta show and prove .......
