Rex Ryan jokes about “overrated” poll

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Rex Ryan has found the positive side of being voted the most overrated coach in the NFL.

A poll of 103 players in The Sporting News had Ryan with 35 votes, beating New England’s Bill Belichick, who had 16.

But the New York Jets coach jokes: “My first thought was I looked and saw who was second. Hey, I finally beat Belichick. I got him. I knew it would take time, but I finally got him.”

The Jets have yet to beat out the Patriots in the AFC East race since Ryan joined them in 2009, although New York has a playoff victory over New England.

Ryan’s Jets are 3-5 this season, but Ryan is optimistic about the rest of the year. He’s not insulted by the poll, saying Wednesday “like it hasn’t been a tough enough year. Nah, I wasn’t offended by it. At the end of the year, we’ll see who’s overrated.”

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL