Rex says owner didn't pressure him on QB decision

BY NICK ST. DENIS

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan made the polarizing decision to start Mark Sanchez this week despite owner Woody Johnson reportedly preferring third-stringer Greg McElroy get the nod.

But Ryan said Johnson didn't and hasn't put any pressure on him in terms of game-time personnel decisions. (photo: Nick St. Denis)

"I don’t get any pressure from Woody. I’m fortunate. I have a great relationship with Woody," Ryan said Wednesday, via NewYorkJets.com. "We have open conversations all the time and we can say things to each other and all that."

Ryan has a track record this year of not letting Woody's actions affect his gameday decisions.

Johnson was clearly the engine behind bringing the attention-getting Tim Tebow to town, yet Ryan hasn't given Tebow a role of significance despite having plenty of opportunities to work him more into the offense with the struggling Sanchez.

"Where I’m real fortunate is from the day Mr. Johnson hired me, he said it’s 100 percent my decision on who plays and what their role is and that’s it," Ryan said. "So that’s never been, one way or the other, it’s always been this way and he’ll remind me of that from time to time as well."

Ryan said Woody supported his decision to stick with Sanchez this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"It’s a New York Jets decision and everybody in this organization may have difference of opinions and things like that, but, at the end of the day, this is a New York Jets decision and we feel good about it and I truly believe that," he said.

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