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Jets' Rex On Overrated Poll: 'I Finally Beat Belichick'

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Rex Ryan has found the positive side of being voted the most overrated coach in the NFL.

A poll of 103 players in the Sporting News had Ryan with 35 votes, beating New England's Bill Belichick, who had 16.

"My first thought was I looked and saw who was second," Ryan said. "I was like, hey, I finally beat Belichick at something. I got him. I knew it would take time, but I finally got him."

The Jets have yet to beat out the Patriots in the AFC East race since Ryan joined them in 2009, although New York has a playoff victory over New England.

Ryan's Jets are 3-5 this season, but Ryan is optimistic about the rest of the year. He's not insulted by the poll, saying Wednesday "like it hasn't been a tough enough year. Nah, I wasn't offended by it. At the end of the year, we'll see who's overrated."

Ryan also pointed to his track record as a players' coach.

"Poll the same players about who they'd want to play for, and I'll probably end up where I always do -- right at the top with (Mike) Tomlin," Ryan said of the Steelers head coach, who had four votes in the poll. "Either me or Mike Tomlin, one of two. We're the guys they want to play for. I don't think that would change. I don't care.

"As long as they want to come here and play, if I'm overrated, that's fine."

You can call Ryan boisterous -- but can you call him overrated? Be heard in the comments below!

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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