“Is it easy? Yeah it is.’’
The Jets drafted Ellis in the first round in 2000 and he has performed well against the Patriots.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Ellis had 36 tackles and 4 ½ sacks last year.
Ellis holds a value the Patriots were willing to pay. The Jets offered Ellis a one-year deal worth $910,000, the veteran minimum. The Patriots offered $4 million plus another $1 million in incentives, according to multiple reports.
When asked how much disappointment he felt with how things ended with the Jets, he explained the two sides.
“When you look at it that way from an emotional standpoint, yeah, it was [disappointing],’’ Ellis said. “But you have to look at it as a business as well. They have a choice of going after the guys they feel like they need or they want to surround their team around and I just wasn’t in their plan. I’m a Patriot now, I’m part of this plan and I’m going to go out there and play my best.’’
When Jets coach Rex Ryan was asked about Ellis this weekend, he offered a little praise and a little warning.
“The fact that he chose them and all that, there’s no way I’m going to wish him well,’’ Ryan said. “There’s no chance of that. I wish him to be healthy but I don’t want him to play that well.’’
But, Ryan added, “I will say this, I’ll warn some of their guys. Be careful, you don’t want to fight Shaun. He’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever been around. He is a tough guy and he’s going to be missed.’’
Ellis was asked about the comments and said, “It’s Rex. I’d like to say I wish him well and I wish him all the success. It’s just how it is … I have a lot of respect for the guy, obviously it seems like it’s not mutual, but I respect him.’’
Ellis said he is getting an understanding of his new team.
