While there were reports of players chiming to NFL writers that they were intrigued by the possibility of playing for Jets coach Rex Ryan after watching the HBO series “Hard Knocks” this summer, Trevor Pryce has had firsthand experience with that, having been coached by Ryan for three years when Rex was defensive coordinator in Baltimore.
Former Ravens DE Trevor Pryce Signed With The Jets To Play For Rex Ryan
Pryce was cut by the Ravens on Wednesday and was expected to re-sign with the team Monday after the Week 4 game in Pittsburgh. During a press conference Thursday afternoon, Pryce explained the reasoning about his decision, as well as took a shot at the defense he left behind in Baltimore.
“I’m humbled that Rex wanted me to play here. When this opportunity pops up, you go, ‘Ah, I don’t think I’m going back.’ ”
“He instills confidence in you that you don’t have. I got released from Denver, that whole thing went down, and he just thought I was more than I knew I was. And by doing that, you don’t want to let somebody like that down.”
“John [Harbaugh] was very cool about it. He was as positive as he could be. It was a half-hour talk. He said I really didn’t want to do it, but I need that spot until Monday. John was very candid that they were bringing me back Monday My agent knew that if Rex called, that is where I was going.”
Another factor that impelled him to New York, he said, was that Pryce didn’t think he would get much as a situational pass rusher with Baltimore the rest of the season because of their struggles stopping the run. His exact phrasing: “We couldn’t stop water from running. We had some stuff to work out.”
Ouch. Pryce will still earn $2 million this season from the Ravens in addition to the money he will receive from the Jets.
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