Namath makes with the funny in Ryan's direction. (US PRESSWIRE)

Posted by Ryan Wilson

It doesn't take much effort to find fans and players of other teams who loathe the Jets. This is what happens to successful franchises, particularly ones who have a head coach that loves the sound of his own voice, usually when there's a microphone nearby. But even former Jets have taken a critical eye to the franchise, and perhaps none more outspoken than Joe Namath.

He called out the team after their loss to the Raiders earlier this season, and suggested that maybe Ryan hasn't done such a good job of preparing the Jets to play. Ryan, of course, had a response.

"I'm not gonna change who I am because Joe Namath said something," he said a few weeks ago. "Joe Namath can come in here, and if he can still throw, we'll have him as a backup quarterback. He doesn't know our team. He's on the outside. … he's not in these meetings. I think if he was he'd be shocked at the preparation.”

Well, the gloves -- and the shirts -- are off. During the Jets' bye week, Rex made a trip to the mall (!) and he donned a No. 12 Jets jersey for the occasion.

Namath, who wore No. 12 during his playing days, appeared on ESPN's 1050 with Michael Kay and quipped: "I'm just stunned that the jersey with No. 12 come in that size."

At least we think it was a joke. Maybe Namath was serious. Either way, according to ESPN New York, Ryan joked that "nothing has hurt more" than Namath's crack about Ryan's man boobs and waistline.

"Hey it doesn't matter," Ryan said when asked about wearing the jersey. "I'm still a huge Joe Namath fan." He then added: "Any fan or any Jets alum is welcome to their opinion. It doesn’t mean I have to like it or agree with it."

If Ryan's taking requests, for his next trick we'd like to see him squeeze into a Sam Bradford jersey.

We'd pay to see Ryan try on Bradford's No. 8. (US PRESSWIRE)

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