National Football League

Jets QB Greg McElroy rips teammates

Published Jan. 4, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Jets rookie quarterback Greg McElroy said Wednesday the team was hurt by a "corrupt mindset" in the locker room this season, with too many selfish players.

Speaking to an Alabama radio station three days after the Jets capped off an 8-8 season with three straight losses, McElroy said, "It's the first time I've ever been around extremely selfish individuals."

"I think that's maybe the nature of the NFL. But there were people within our locker room that didn't care whether we won or lost as long as they had good games individually. And that's the disappointing thing."

McElroy did not name individual players, nor was he asked to.

The rookie from Alabama, who missed the season because of a thumb injury, said head coach Rex Ryan was right to boast about the Jets' championship chances.

"Quite frankly, If you go down the roster this year, there's no reason we shouldn't have made a Super Bowl run," the Jets' seventh-round draft pick told 97.3 The Zone. "The talent, top to bottom, is pretty remarkable.

"The disappointing thing is, the fact is, it doesn't matter how much talent you have, if you don't come together as a group, and just figure things out and kind of withstand the difficulties of the season, you're never going to amount to anything."

McElroy was placed on injured reserve after suffering his injury in the Jets' preseason finale. He could replace Mark Brunell as Mark Sanchez's primary backup next season.

"I think that we're going to regroup, and I know we'll be a better team because of the trials and tribulations this year," said McElroy, who quarterbacked Alabama to the national championship two years ago.