NFL Playoffs: Is The Rex Ryan and Antonio Cromartie Trash Talk a Good Strategy?

Talking trash to Tom Brady is like talking trash to Derek Jeter, Kobe Bryant or Wayne Gretzky before a huge playoff game. Why would you do that?

The reason New York Jets corner back Antonio Cromartie made such rude comments toward Brady this weekend is because he's afraid.

He knows Tom Brady is going to light him up with whatever receiver matches against Cromartie, so Cromartie needed something to motivate himself to play better than normal.

Rex Ryan is doing something similar to Cromartie. Cromartie is basically taking the blame if the Jets lose, making sure Mark Sanchez, Darrelle Revis, and any other marquee player does not get killed by the media.

Rex Ryan is doing the same thing. It's as brave as it is stupid, but it is a tactic many coaches in every type of sport do, and some find it to be effective.

Ryan is taking the questions from "how are you going to beat the Patriots?" to "what do you think of the Patriots players?"

Maybe I'm giving Ryan too much credit for being smart, and being a master of manipulating the media, but he knows what he's doing.

And to be honest, after the Jets lost, 45-3 to the Patriots in Foxboro this season, the Jets cannot afford to let the Patriots get an idea of their game plan for Sunday.

The Jets' only chance to beat the Patriots is to run the ball very well and force multiple turnovers. The turnover battle will be huge, and the Jets need to win this battle by at least two to be able to beat Tom Brady.

The Jets have been talking all season, and even in the preseason, and their moment has arrived. Either you back up the talk, or shut up.

If the Jets do not beat the Patriots on Sunday, and even worse, get killed again, the Jets will look terrible in the media, and in society, and may never recover.