Gholston points to Rex for Jets failure

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan said Tuesday he disagrees with former Jets defensive end Vernon Gholston's belief that he was never given a fair shot in Ryan's two seasons.

"My job is not just to make one player better and to feature one player," Ryan said after hearing about Gholston's comments.

"When I came here I thought my job was to build the best defense we could possibly build and I think when you look statistically whether we were successful or not it's hard to argue that we weren't successful in building this defense for the betterment of the New York Jets, not just one player."

Gholston, who was released in the winter and is now with the Chicago Bears as a backup, was drafted sixth overall by the Jets in 2008.

While back in New Jersey Monday night for the Bears' preseason game against the Giants, Gholston said the deck was stacked against him when Ryan took over from Eric Mangini in 2009.

"I heard how he was perceiving me before the [2008] draft, before he knew me, and I was the same way -- I wasn't hoping for him to be [my] first coach of the Jets when I was there, either," said Gholston, who never recorded a sack in 48 games with the Jets.

The former Ohio State star still feels he didn't get enough of an opportunity to display his abilities with Ryan or his staff despite their sometimes-desperate efforts -- both position switches and psychological ploys -- to get him to produce.

"Being a first-round pick, you would have hoped for more [of a chance]," said Gholston, who added his release by the Jets last winter was "a needed move."

Ryan, despite their disagreement, still wished Gholston well.

"I wasn't as high on him as maybe others were [coming out of college]. But when I got here we were all in," Ryan said. "I wanted Vernon to be successful. I still want him to be successful. I think he's a good kid. I don't care what he said about me. That's fine. He's a fine young man and I wish him well."