Aaron Donald Calls Rex Ryan's 2014 'Jock' Comments 'Disrespectful'

Apparently, Aaron Donald has a long memory to go along with his extended list of NFL accomplishments.

The Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle said Wednesday he remembers Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan saying Donald could not "hold [Sheldon Richardson's] jock" in 2014.

"I remember them. I ain’t forget about what he said," Donald said, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com. "But, it is what it is. It ain’t no big deal to me, but I remember it. I remember what he said."

"Yeah, I remember that," Donald continued. "That's kind of disrespectful to say. But it is what it is."

Ryan made his comments while coaching Richardson with the New York Jets. Richardson, considered one of the NFL's preeminent interior defensive linemen, was initially snubbed from the Pro Bowl team for a then-rookie Donald.

"If it kept him out of the Pro Bowl because some guy had X amount of sacks—and that guy can't hold his jock as a player, to be honest with you—I think that's kind of strange to me," Ryan said, referring to Donald.

Richardson was eventually named to the team as an injury replacement. Donald has gone on to become perhaps the NFL's best defensive tackle, and Ryan went out of his way Wednesday to walk back his comments. 

"I never even saw him play," Ryan said, "but I knew he was a rookie, so rookies shouldn't go to the Pro Bowl. But, anyway, after I've seen this kid play, I'm like, 'Oh boy! Mark that down as one of the dumbest ones. And I've had a couple of them; maybe one or two dumb ones. That one right there is right at the top. Obviously, he's a great player."  

Donald didn't seem especially moved by Ryan's backtracking. 

"He still said it," Donald said.

Ryan will get a firsthand look at Donald on Sunday when his Bills travel to Los Angeles. Both teams sit firmly in playoff contention despite dispiriting starts to their regular season. The Bills lost each of their first two games and are already on their second offensive coordinator. The Rams have won three straight since a shutout loss to the now-1-3 San Francisco 49ers in Week 1.

If Ryan's comments provide any sort of motivation, it could be a long day for Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Donald had 1.5 sacks last week and appears to be warming up after a slow (for him) start.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.