Rex Ryan on 'sideways' antics: Not my proudest moment

Rex Ryan has sworn off sideways stances. For now.

The Jets coach was able to laugh at himself Wednesday as he recalled his postgame antics after the Jets' overtime win over the Giants during last year's "MetLife Bowl." During an on-air exchange with a reporter who pressed Ryan on his refusal to anoint a starting quarterback between Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith, Ryan grew visibly irritated and turned sideways at the podium as a sign of protest.

"I can answer it 100 times -- here, I'll stand backwards and answer it. I'll go sideways," the coach said after the Aug. 24 game, in which Sanchez suffered what turned out to be a season-ending shoulder injury. "We'll make the announcement when we think it's the appropriate time."

Ryan admitted Wednesday that he probably should have handled the situation differently.

"Was that my proudest moment? Probably not," he said, though he joked he's not above turning sideways during a news conference again. "It was kind of funny."

"I think I got a little tired of it," he added, referring to the constant quarterback questions. " . . . Sometimes after games we tell our players to cool off, but sometimes I need to cool off, too."

A year later, Ryan is still being peppered by questions about who his starting quarterback will be this season -- Smith or Michael Vick. And he's not telling. But the players say there's no quarterback confusion in their locker room.

"I thought we've got a starter," Vick said. "We do have a starter for this football team."

When asked specifically about the importance of a regular-season starter being named, the backup laughed and said: "Ya'll at it again. Ya'll will see who's out there."

Hofstra-bound

Ryan said he's looking forward to the team's "Family Event" and walkthrough practice at Hofstra Thursday, although some of his younger players may not understand the significance, he said. "Once you get there, then they kind of get it," Ryan said. "They see the fans and all of that. It's kind of a cool thing. I know for the old timers like me and other guys that have been around, you recognize and appreciate those fans, so that is kind of why we do it."

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The Jets placed Dexter McDougle (ACL) on injured reserve . . . Chris Johnson (rest), Dee Milliner (ankle), Antwan Barnes (PUP) and Jalen Saunders (medical) did not practice. Chris Ivory (ribs) was limited.