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This one almost floored me. New York Jets coach Rex Ryan says he regrets the trash talking with Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder.

Rex Ryan says his smack-talk exchange with Crowder was lighthearted in nature and hates that it was turned into a national story.

Ryan was chatting on a conference call with South Florida reporters about the coming Monday night game against the Dolphins in Land Shark Stadium, when he addressed the summertime verbal fisticuffs.

“I think the thing with Channing Crowder, if I had to do one thing over, that would probably be it, because clearly I was joking about the whole thing, which I had done before in the past in Baltimore with Chad Johnson [Ochocinco] and with some other guys. For some reason, I don’t think the tone was reflected that way. That is what it is. I’ll say this to you guys: I’m not going to be hard to find out there. I’ll be wearing a white jersey with a 77 on it.” – NY Jets head coach Rex Ryan

No. 77 is Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins who is conservatively listed at 6-foot-4 and 360 pounds.

Ryan also said he thinks bulletin board material only amounts to something if you’ve been disrespectful, adding “but I’ve never been disrespectful to anybody.”

Ryan also reiterated that his team is not afraid of anyone and is determined to go out and try and win a championship. Something that made me feel a little better about coming out with “regrets” about anything he has said.

I love Rex Ryan and what he has brought and done with this team. I have made absolutely no bones about that, but to see him say he regrets anything he has said kinda irked me. Especially since he admits he said nothing with malice in his heart nor was any of it intended to be taken seriously. What does this bit of back tracking mean: does he think he gave Miami some sort of advantage?

While on one hand it can be viewed as simply a stand up move to address a perceived slight, I can’t help but wish he had stuck to his guns, Channing Crowder and his feelings be damned.

I also don’t particularly care about whether or not he provided so called bulletin board material. I can’t for the life of me see why people get in arms about these things. It’s like admitting you’re afraid of the competition: “Oh please don’t hurt us Mr. Crowder! We’re awfully sorry for saying we think we can beat you! Oh mercy my!”

Crowder said he had no hard feelings toward Ryan and the exchange they had in June. Apparently, Crowder plans on saving the hate for our very own RB Leon Washington.

It seems the two have beef that goes back to their college days, when Crowder played for Florida and Washington at Florida State.

“We do not like each other. With Florida State, I hated him. I hate him now. If I see him out, I’m not going to talk to him. I’m not going to slap him, but I’m not going to be pleasant. Every time he sees me, he starts cussing. I see him and I start cussing. It’s going to be like that the whole game.” – Miami Dolphins LB Channing Crowder

Washington’s response to that?

“I eat clam chowder for breakfast. Tell him I said that.”

Crowder went on to say he feels the same way about the rest of the Jets, saying rookie Mark Sanchez can expect to hear his fair share of  ‘cussing’ this Monday night.

Monday night should also prove to be one heck of a welcome for recently acquired WR Braylon Edwards out of Cleveland. Edwards will be hitting the field as a Jet for the first time this Monday night.

Maybe Crowder’s friends should be a little scared!

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