A usually talkative Bart Scott didn't have to provide any bulletin-board material for Monday night's preseason game between his New York Jets and the Ravens - because his coach did it for him.
Rex Ryan, the Ravens' former defensive coordinator, criticized the franchise's decision to give former defensive end Michael McCrary's No. 99 jersey to second-round pick Paul Kruger.
"I am disappointed that they gave his jersey to some rookie who hasn't proven" anything, said Ryan, using an expletive as quoted by the Associated Press. "Excuse my language."
McCrary, a two-time Pro Bowl selection who retired after 2002, is the only player in Ravens history to wear No. 99. Efforts to reach McCrary were unsuccessful, and Kruger did not return an e-mail request seeking a response.
Earlier this summer, Kruger said he was honored to wear McCrary's number.
"I'm actually supposed to meet Michael McCrary," Kruger said in June. "I've heard a lot about him and how he was a great player. They hadn't issued that number since his time until now. So there's definitely a big responsibility on my shoulders."
This is not the first time Ryan has stirred the pot with his comments. He told a New York sports radio show that he did not fill the Jets' coaching vacancy to kiss the Super Bowl rings of New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Ryan also engaged in a feud with Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder.
Meanwhile, Scott, the former Ravens linebacker who became a Pro Bowl player after signing with the club as an undrafted rookie, refused to place added significance on Monday's preseason contest.
"It's a preseason game," he said. "It's important for us to take the next step. It's two quarters. The starters play a little longer, get that football conditioning up. [We will] get ready to have a great showing for our fans on a Monday night game that is national. [We want to] make sure we cut down on the mistakes. It's all about us trying to get better."
'Over-30 Club'
With Derrick Mason excused from morning practice on an "Over-30" day, Mark Clayton dealing with a strained left hamstring and Demetrius Williams (right hamstring) and Yamon Figurs (reason undisclosed) limited to individual drills, the first receiving corps featured Kelley Washington, Justin Harper and Jayson Foster.
Foster led the Ravens with 78 receiving yards in last Thursday's 23-0 victory over the Washington Redskins, but he was reluctant to read too much into the arrangement.
