FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- When the Jets were 3-0, there was distinct swagger in their step. And one of the most boisterous guys on the team, safety Kerry Rhodes, was a tone-setter in that regard.

So now that they've lost five of six, is that gone?

"It’s hanging on – saw Swaggerman on the goalpost," Rhodes said smiling yesterday. "Almost falling off, but he’s still on top of there, hanging on."

A reporter then asked for a clarification. Pretty awkward. "I was joking, man," he said. And that's how Rhodes sees all of this.

The big talk during the week? The calling out of opponents? All that stuff? Does it matter?

"At the end of the day, no," Rhodes told me later on. "At the end of the day, you gotta perform. I’ve seen people win that way, I’ve seen people win the other way. I don’t think it matters that much.

"If it’s a guy talking about you personally, maybe you’ll step it more. But I don’t think teams in this league put too much stock into what other teams say. I mean, I wouldn’t. I’ve heard other teams talk about us before and we’ll look at it, but we won’t put too much into it."

Fifteen-year vet Tony Richardson later seconded the notion, and he said that Rex Ryan was the second coach he's had who doesn't use bulletin board material. The other? Dick Vermeil.

Isn't there something else tying those two coaches together?