National Football League

Ryan: Foot-fetish vid 'personal matter'

Published Dec. 22, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

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A day after a series of bizarre foot-fetish videos were made widely available featuring a woman who looks like the wife of Rex Ryan, the Jets coach refused to answer questions on the matter this afternoon, saying it is a "personal issue."

"Obviously, I knew this question was coming," Ryan told reporters in Chicago. "This is a personal issue and I'm not going to discuss it."

Ryan did not deny, however, that his wife is the star of a series of foot-fetish YouTube videos.

The four videos posted Tuesday afternoon on the sports gossip site Deadspin.com show the woman displaying her feet for a cameraman who sounds like Ryan.

Known for putting his foot in his mouth in the past, Ryan avoided answering the question during a news conference ahead of Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

Asked several times whether he and his wife made the videos, Ryan said he would not get into the issue.

"I hope you can respect that," he said.

A somber-looking Ryan said the videos would not serve as a distraction this weekend.

"We're going to be ready to play Chicago and I am ready," he said.

Asked a final time before a Jets official called off questions on the matter, Ryan said, "Again, it's personal. I'm not here to discuss it."

Ryan did talk about his wife when one reporter asked about her, saying, "My wife is beautiful ... She's awesome."

The 10-4 Jets can clinch a playoff berth with a victory over the Bears.

In one of the videos, the woman showing off her bare feet while sitting in a car is a dead ringer for Michelle Ryan, who has been married to the Jets coach for the past 23 years.

Deadspin reported that the woman in the videos goes by the Internet name "Ihaveprettyfeet" and has more than looks in common with Ryan's wife. Similar to Michelle Ryan, the 47-year-old is a housewife with a master's degree and is a Virgo who and once lived in Ellicott City, Md.

The Maryland town, just outside Baltimore, is the same place the Ryan family lived when Rex worked as an assistant coach for the Ravens.

The Ryan foot saga is the latest controversy to hound the Jets this season.

The NFL is investigating now-suspended strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi after he tripped a Miami Dolphins player during a punt return.

In September, wide receiver Braylon Edwards was busted on DWI charges after cops pulled him over in Manhattan.

Just before the start of the 2010 season, the players sparked a league probe after Mexican television sports reporter Ines Sainz claimed she was harassed during practice.

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