Sheldon Richardson

Rex Ryan regrets taking a foolish shot at Rams All-Pro Aaron Donald

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:02 p.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

Rex Ryan has never been one to mince his words, be it about the Patriots or his team’s future or a player on the opposing team. That’s his personality, and it’s the way he coaches an NFL team – right or wrong, it’s inevitable.

Sometimes it gets him into trouble, and other times he looks like a guy who knows what he’s doing.

Two years ago, he looked like a coach who had no idea what he was talking about. In 2014, Ryan proclaimed that Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald “couldn't hold the jock strap” of Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson.

That was, of course, back when Ryan was with the Jets and Donald was a budding star. Two years later and Ryan looks like a complete fool with Donald a serious Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

"I don't blame him [for still being upset],” Ryan told reporters Wednesday. "I never knew the guy. I never even saw him. That was what was said to me, so I made the comment."

Now knowing Donald and the player he is today, Ryan was quick to take back that comment – particularly with the Rams next on Buffalo’s schedule.

"I'm like, 'Hmmm! After watching him, ohhh, I want to take that back," Ryan said. "You know me, I make some comments that aren't really good. That's one of them.

"This guy's really good. He reminds me of John Randle. His quickness, change-of-direction, I mean, unusual. You just don't see it. So, yeah, that probably wasn't the smartest comment of all time."

Ryan and the Bills will have their hands full trying to limit Donald, the current NFC Defensive Player of the Week. His production hasn’t been eye-popping when glancing at the stat sheet, but he leads the league with 25 quarterback pressures – an absurd number for a defensive tackle.

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