EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Observed and heard in the New York Jets' locker room after their 31-17 loss to the Denver Broncos:
There was a mix of emotions after the Jets' fifth straight loss. Guard Willie Colon, often the unofficial locker-room spokesman, refused to speak with reporters -- quite telling. This was a humbling day for the offensive line, as the Jets ran for only 31 yards, the lowest of the Rex Ryan era. Across the room, defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson showed plenty of emotion. Asked if he's frustrated by the 1-5 start, Richardson snapped, "Do you see my face? It’s frustrated, right? That’s all you need to know. It’s frustrating to lose. I’m not a loser, none of us are losers, so losing is frustrating."
Cornerback Dee Milliner, likely done for the season with an Achilles tendon injury, left the stadium on a golf cart. He had crutches, and his left foot was in a boot. It was a sobering sight for the Jets, whose offseason blueprint for the secondary revolved around Milliner's potential as a No. 1 corner. The reason they didn't pursue the big-name free agents is because they felt Milliner would build on his encouraging finish to his rookie year, galvanizing the secondary. Some teammates call him "Franchise." And now it looks like he's finished. "It hurts not having him in our secondary. That's a big part of us," safety Calvin Pryor said. "We rely on him a lot."
The Jets are mired in the longest losing streak under Ryan, who didn't bring his usual defiant attitude to his postgame news conference. Ryan said their plan for Peyton Manning was "fairly effective." He lamented the lack of a running game but wasn't too critical of his team's overall performance. If you wanted fire and brimstone, you didn't get it. "This is a resilient group, there's no doubt about it," he said. "I know our fans are frustrated, and they have a right to be. You could imagine what it's like in this locker room."
