Rex Ryan Isn't Sure Who Dion Lewis Is
BOSTON (CBS) -- Rex Ryan always has something to say, so anything the new Buffalo Bills head coach says shouldn't come as a surprise.
And one thing is clear: He loves to tweak the Patriots in any way, shape or form. Even if he's tweaking a little-known running back.
Ryan is gearing up for his first matchup with the Patriots with his new team, and had a few things to say about the upcoming showdown on Monday. When asked about Patriots running back Dion Lewis, who rushed for 69 yards and caught four passes for 51 yards in Week 1 against the Steelers, Ryan said he wasn't even sure who the back is.
"I don't care, put anybody back there," said Ryan. "You can do good there, all right? Nah, I mean, they're decent backs in their own right, but I don't think we're going to focus on that kid.
"I can't even tell you that kid's name," he said of Lewis, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round in 2011.
Ouch, though Lewis shouldn't really see it as too big of a slight. Ryan and his defense obviously have other players to worry about, say Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman, who have a much better track record of torching Ryan's teams.
When told of Ryan's comment in the Patriots locker room on Monday, Lewis wasn't up to joining the war of words.
"I'm just going to do whatever my coaches ask me to do to help my team win," he said when asked if he wanted to send the Bills coach any kind of message.
"He's a great coach," added Lewis, who spent time with the Eagles, Browns and Colts before making finally making his NFL debut Thursday night with New England. "They have a great defense, a great team. I've just got to go out there, get ready for this team and try to help my team win."
LeGarrette Blount is set to return from his one-week suspension, but Lewis will still likely get plenty of playing time after an impressive debut against the Steelers. He should continue to thrive as New England's new third down back, now armed with a little bulletin board material thanks to Ryan, though he'll have a much tougher test on Sunday against a talented Bills defense.
And maybe after seeing Lewis up close this weekend, Ryan won't have any trouble remembering his name.
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