National Football League

Ryan clarifies comments about Giants

Published May. 2, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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New York Jets coach Rex Ryan fired back Monday at comments from Giants PR Chief Pat Hanlon, who ripped Ryan over claims his team would have beaten the Packers had it made it to the Super Bowl.

"I think I can whip Pat. I'm worried about him throwing a BlackBerry at me," Ryan said, while promoting the book in which his boasts appear.

Ryan wrote in the book that the Jets would have beaten the Packers in the Super Bowl if they had not lost to the Steelers in the AFC Championship two weeks before. Pittsburgh lost to Green Bay 31-25 in Super Bowl XLV.

"Talk is cheap... You gotta be in it to win it." Hanlon wrote on Twitter.

Also in the book, Ryan said the Jets were the football big brother to the Giants.

"I'm certainly not trying to disrespect the New York Giants and their history," Ryan said Monday.

"I can't affect what's been done in the past but I can affect the present and the future. When I came here I didn't come here to be second fiddle to the New York Giants or anybody else in this league.

"That's it. I don't plan on just being better than the Giants. I plan on being better than every organization, every team for the next 10 years. That's just the way it is."

The Jets and Giants will meet on Christmas Eve this year in Week 16 of the NFL season, unless the lockout pushes back the schedule or cancels it altogether.

Hanlon felt the need to get involved in the hype almost eight months in advance.

"I really do feel guilty when I take advantage of these opportunities. The playing field's not level, I admit. But it's fun, a diversion," Hanlon wrote.