Rex Ryan: Mike Pettine 'needs to learn to be quiet'

On Thursday, TheMMQB.com's Greg A. Bedard dropped quite the bombshell. He wrote that Browns coach Mike Pettine believes a Jets playbook, from his days as New York's defensive coordinator, got into the hands of Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots coaching staff.

How might the Patriots have gotten a hold of this? Apparently through Alabama coach Nick Saban, one of Belichick's closest friends. Pettine said that Ryan gave Saban a copy of his playbook, and hypothetically, that's how it could have made its way to Foxboro, Mass.

Pettine's former boss, Jets coach Rex Ryan, was not pleased with this story. Speaking to reporters, Ryan had some words for Pettine, who appeared to have a solid relationship with Ryan before this.

"[Pettine] needs to learn to be quiet," Ryan said.

It is quite the allegation if you think about it. The Patriots, where Spygate is still referenced to this day, were able to get a hold of a Jets defensive playbook. Apparently this story began with the notion of Tom Brady, at Wes Welker's wedding, bragging to former Jets outside linebackers coach Mike Smith about how the Patriots might be in possession of a defensive playbook.

Saban has since denied he handed Belichick a playbook, via AL.com, and, through a spokesman, said the playbook is still at his desk.

Oh, the drama of the NFL offseason.

Follow me on twitter: @JasonHButt

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