Linebacker Bart Scott, who ripped Jets fans who tore into the team in a now viral YouTube video, was more circumspect Thursday.
Ryan talked to Scott about his comments and the Jets veteran seemed more contrite a day after his criticism.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for fans and what they do and the sacrifice they make. I’m aware of that. But when I’m asked about certain things that were said — which I didn’t know — of course I’m going to protect my team and protect my organization,” Scott said.
Scott told Newsday’s Neil Best on Wednesday that the jeering fans “don’t care.”
“They just call us bums. Like they could ever play or can understand the pressure,” Scott said. “They couldn’t make it through my high school practice, so why explain it?”
Left guard Matt Slauson said given the proximity of the Jets bench to the field-level seats, the team has become good at blocking out both the kudos and criticism from the fans. Despite the hatred coming from the stands on Thursday night, Slauson understands where it is coming from and why the fans are so upset.
“I do [understand]. I don’t necessarily like it, but fans invest a lot to be able to come in games. They invest in their teams,” Slauson said. “Our fans are incredibly passionate. They want us to win and they want us to do it right.”
There was even an understanding from Scott as to why fans would be frustrated after seeing their team crumble before a national audience against their most hated of rivals.
“At the end of the day, we’re embarrassed too,” Scott said. “When we lose a game like that on national TV, we didn’t put in 40 hours of work coming in here practicing, going over game plans to go out there and embarrass ourselves — to let our teammates down, let our coaching staff down, let our city down.”
Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.
