In what has become a weekly routine this season, comments from Dallas Cowboys outspoken defensive coordinator Rob Ryan have dominated the pre-game coverage of their game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
After the Eagles won a bidding war over CB Nnamdi Asomugha in the off-season, Ryan boldly declared that "I don't know if we win the all-hype team, I think that might have gone to somebody else, but we're going to beat [the Eagles] a** when we play them."
In a radio interview shortly afterwards, Eagles QB Michael Vick responded: "We don't talk. We go about our business the right way. Maybe we'll make him eat his words. I hope he can back it up."
Now, months later, after both teams struggled out the gate, Ryan's comments have dominated media coverage of the huge NFC East showdown.
Philadelphia WR DeSean Jackson said to reporters on Wednesday that "for a coach to really say that, it's hard for me to kind of respect that because the coach is not really out there playing. You know, as far as the defensive coordinator to predict that, that's unheard of, uncalled for."
Cowboys fans wanting more information and analysis on America's Team can check out Blogging The Boys, while Eagles fans can check out Bleeding Green Nation.