Pettine: Patriots May Have Had Jets' Defensive Playbooks A Few Years Ago
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- This is the type of thing one would expect from the Jets and the Patriots.
Former Jets defensive coordinator and current Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine has a theory many Gang Green supporters aren't going to like.
He believes the Patriots had possession of a few of the Jets' defensive playbooks a few years ago.
Pettine told Sports Illustrated's The MMQB that at Wes Welker's wedding in 2012, New England quarterback Tom Brady bragged to then-Jets outside linebackers coach Mike Smith that the Patriots might have had a couple Jets playbooks.
"It didn't shock me because Rex (Ryan) would give them out like candy anyway," Pettine told the website. "He gave one out to (Alabama coach Nick) Saban and I was like, 'Don't you know Saban and Bill (Belichick) are pretty good friends? I have a feeling it's going to end up in New England.'"
In a league where teams have proven they will go to often unsportsmanlike extremes to get an edge, it shouldn't surprise anyone if Pettine's theory is eventually proven true.
Ryan didn't take too kindly to the report.
"One thing I know for a fact, it's disrespectful to New England to say, 'oh, they did this...'" Ryan said. "Every single game, your playbook changes. Your game plan changes every single week.
"Your playbook, if you study your opponent, is based on your preparation," Ryan added. "This thing has probably been blown out of proportion a little bit. To me, this is a lot to do about nothing."
Ryan made it clear he is disappointed in Pettine, who was his right-hand with the Jets for several years after the two worked together in Baltimore.
"It sounds like everybody's got to talk to Pettine because it seems like he's got all the information," Ryan said. "I don't understand what he's trying to gain with it."
When asked if he plans to speak to Pettine about the report, Ryan said, "I don't need to. I'm going on vacation."
Other Jets coaches also downplayed the report.
Patriots head coach Belichick ran some misdirection when he was asked the question on Thursday.
For the record, the Patriots beats the Jets four straight times during the regular season from October 2011 to November 2012, scoring 145 points in the process.
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