Rex Ryan is a stubborn coach. Stubborn enough to shake off words from Joe Namath, the New York Jets’ only Super Bowl-winning quarterback, who questioned Ryan’s preparation skills as head coach.

“I’m not going to change who I am because Joe Namath said something,” Ryan told reporters Monday. “He doesn’t know our team. He’s on the outside. He’s not in these meetings. I think if he was, he’d be shocked at the preparation.”

Ryan’s comments came in response to Namath’s criticism of the team and its head coach during an interview Monday on “The Michael Kay Show” on ESPN Radio. The former quarterback was most critical of Ryan’s egotistical, trash-talking attitude that has developed as a theme during his two-plus seasons as Jets head coach.

“If there’s one thing about the athlete, if you keep telling him how good he is, he’s going to start believing it, to the point that he may not be preparing quite the way he should,” Namath told Kay. “He may be losing some respect for the other team.”

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Namath said he was “disheartened” by the Jets’ 34-24 loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, when his old team dropped to 2-1 on the young season.

But Ryan took a more optimistic road, per usual, saying he had faith in his team to turn things around this week as they take on the Baltimore Ravens, for whom Ryan was previously the defensive coordinator. And Ryan being Ryan, he also used the opportunity to incorporate Namath into a joke.

“Namath can come in here, and if he can still throw, we’ll have him as a backup quarterback,” Ryan said.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Rex Ryan disagrees with Joe Namath’s opinion that the Jets coach is making his team overconfident, which helped lead to its loss Sunday at Oakland.

“I’m not going to change who I am because Joe Namath said something,” Ryan said Monday.

The Hall of Fame quarterback said on 1050 ESPN Radio on Monday that “it’s rather alarming” Ryan allows his players to think “they’re better than they are.” He says Ryan is doing “a great job,” but also says if the coach keeps telling his players how good they are, they might not prepare correctly.

Ryan says Namath, who led the franchise to its only Super Bowl title in 1969, would be “shocked” at how his team prepares.

“He doesn’t know our team,” Ryan says. “He’s on the outside.”

Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.

by Russ Oates • Aug 21, 2011 8:56 PM EDT

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When, where: Jan. 12, 1969; Orange Bowl, Miami

Score: New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7

Baltimore Colts quarterback Earl Morrall (15) looks down field for a receiver during action against the New York Jets in Super Bowl III in Miami, Fla., Jan. 12, 1969. The Jets defeated Colts, 16-7. (AP Photo)

The setup

Three days before Super Bowl III, incomparable Jets QB Joe Namath appeared before the Miami Touchdown Club, tossed a few footballs into the audience, jested briefly and then, growing serious, announced:

“The Jets will win on Sunday, I guarantee it.”

And his Jets were anywhere from an 18-point to 23-point underdogs.

Back and forth

“I have a lot of respect for Joe,” Baltimore defensive end Bubba Smith said. “He’s an exceptional quarterback. But a football player who’s real good doesn’t have to talk. The Green Bay Packers were real champions. They never talked. They never had to. That’s the way I visualize all champions, dignified and humble.

“All this Namath talk isn’t going to fire us up.”

On that point, Namath agreed, saying, “If they need newspaper clippings to fire them up, they’re in trouble.”

Famous faces

Crowd-scanners recognized celebrities such as President-elect Richard Nixon and Vice President-elect Spiro Agnew; U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy and his father, Joseph P. Kennedy, former ambassador to England; comedians Bob Hope and Jackie Gleason, and astronauts Frank Borman, Bill Anders and Jim Lovell.

First strike

After Randy Beverly picked off a Colts pass in the end zone, the Jets went to work from their own 20. Matt Snell ran four straight times to the 46. Three Namath completions and a short run by Emerson Boozer set up a 12-yard pass to Snell to get the Jets to the Colts’ 9.

Snell gained 5 yards to the right side, then smashed to the left, where Winston Hill rode Lou Michaels out of the play, Boozer erased safety Rick Volk and, at the goal line, Snell bulled over middle linebacker Dennis Gaubatz. When Jim Turner converted, the Jets led, 7-0, in the second quarter.

Turning point

With 25 seconds remaining in the first half, the Colts reached the Jets’ 42. Earl Morrall handed off to Tom Matte, who pitched back to Morrall—a flea-flicker. Jimmy Orr was wide open at the 10, but Morrall never saw him and instead threw toward Jerry Hill. Jim Hudson intercepted the pass and the Jets went to the locker room up 7-0.

Pulling away

Jim Turner booted two third-quarter field goals and a third early in the fourth quarter to stretch the Jets’ lead to 16-0. Colts coach Don Shula took out Morrall and replaced him with veteran Johnny Unitas, who didn’t fare much better, completing 11 of 24 passes for 110 yards and an interception.

Parting shot

“We didn’t win on passing or running or defense. We beat ’em in every phase of the game. If ever there was a world champion, this is it.” —Namath

— Sporting News archives

Joe Namath made a bold prediction leading up to Super Bowl III: The New York Jets, with the QB who threw more interceptions than TD passes that season, were going to beat the NFL champion Baltimore Colts. Considering the Colts had tossed four shutouts and held seven other opponents to 10 or fewer points, it was a bold call. Still, Namath stood behind it and delivered. He took a quick trip down memory lane for a story that appeared in the September 15, 2008, issue of Sporting News magazine.

I saw an interview a while back with Don Larsen. They were talking to him about his perfect game. The guy said, “Don, do you ever get tired of talking about the perfect game?” Don said, “Why would I?” I loved that answer. Any time anyone asks me about Super Bowl III—at an airport, at the convenience store—I love talking about it. It comes up every day. The fans won’t let it go.

New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath, (12), hands off the football to Matt Snell, (41), during Super Bowl III in Miami, Fla., on Jan. 12, 1969. The Jets beat the Baltimore Colts 16-7. (AP Photo)

I was like a 2-month-old puppy dog back then. You know what a puppy’s like: They don’t know what’s going on, so they want to get into everything. I messed up a few times (off the field), but my teammates knew I was always ready to work. Football was the main focus of my life. I didn’t leave it at the stadium; I ate, slept and drank it, with a little social activity mixed in. After my career, I was reminded time and again how fortunate I was not to start a family until later. I could totally focus on the game.

I’ll always remember two games from that (1968) season. I played like a mutt. We lost at Buffalo (37-35 in Week 3). I threw five interceptions, and three were returned for touchdowns. How often does that happen? Two weeks later, we played at Denver at Shea and I did it again—five interceptions (in a 21-13 loss). I fooled myself into thinking I was ready, and I wasn’t. I learned a big-time lesson and learned to count on my defense. I did that the rest of the season—even in the Super Bowl, when we didn’t throw a pass in the fourth quarter. Didn’t have to.

There was no play to the guarantee. Before the Super Bowl, a big, heavy Colts fan in the back of the room said, “Hey Namath, we’re gonna kick your (expletive),” and I said it. “We’re gonna win the game. I guarantee it.” Having played for great high school, college and pro coaches, I was taught not to be overconfident, but that’s the way I felt. I was trained for that game since I was a young boy. My basic goals were always: 1. Earn a spot on the team; 2. Show them you’re a man; and 3. Win a championship.

My teammates were a little p.o.’d with me (after the guarantee). Dave Herman, our guard, was playing with me a little but said, “Why you getting ’em mad, you jerk? Now they’re going to kill us.” The next day, we’re standing at midfield and Coach (Weeb) Ewbank says, “Gosh darnit, Joe, look at how confident those guys are.” I said, “Hey, Coach, it’s your fault. You’re the one who made us believe we are going to win the game.”

To this day, that game remains a great example of how you can get something accomplished when most of the experts don’t think you can. And it really changed my life. Ever since, folks say hello to me more often. Ninety percent of them have a smile on their face when they’re talking about Super Bowl III. The other 10 percent are Baltimore fans.