New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott holds court

[SoFlaJets]

By Hutch

Next to a Rex Ryan news conference, checking in with Jets linebacker Bart Scott during an open locker room session is a must.

Wednesday, Scott, who blossomed under Ryan in Baltimore and signed a six-year, $48 million deal ($22 million guaranteed) with the Jets this offseason, held court and touched on several interesting topics:

On playing for Ryan: ``You want to have the freedom to be yourself, not to be a robot. I look at being an athlete as being an entertainer. It's a form of expression. When you have to play, you have to put your personality and your interpretation of the defense out on the field. You can't have someone that says you can't celebrate and you can't be happy or talk trash.

``Whatever you do, do it. (Ryan) gives us the environment to do that. Everyone here is from different places so you should embrace the different personalities. Nobody wants to be robot.''

On transitioning from the Ravens defense: ``This defense is looking to set up its own image. In a little while we'll stop even mentioning Baltimore's style. It'll be the New York Jets style. Certain players have different skills. There are different people and it's exciting and fresh.''

On where the defense is right now: ``We're really making strides. It's hard to really get it down until you put pads on. The purpose of this right now is just to line up and know where you're going. Once you put the pads on, you see where the holes are. I think we're going to be a force.''

Notes: QB Kellen Clemens said rookie QB Mark Sanchez is progressing every day although it's not showing up in the stats. Sanchez was three-of-nine in today's OTA session with two drops, a spike to kill the clock and two dropped interceptions.

``You can't always see it from the outside but he's picking up the offense very well,'' said the always classy Clemens. ...

The Jets today waived DT/LS Anthony Harris, who rolled a snap near the goal line in Wednesday's OTA session. The move is a vote of confidence for veteran LS James Dearth. ...

S Kerry Rhodes twittered that the Jets will have the league's best defense. ``I like to hear comments like that,'' said Ryan.