Rex Ryan spoke for the first time about his benching of James Ihedigbo and Marques Murrell this week after they threw punches at Bills tight end Derek Fine in overtime against Buffalo Sunday, saying, “That’s not the way we’re going to play football and I won’t tolerate it.’’

“What they did was selfish,’’ Ryan said. “We want to be the most physical team in the NFL, but within the confines of the rules.’’

Ryan revealed that he “did think about’’ cutting both players he was so angry, but opted to bench them for the game instead.

“It’s a punishment not going to the game, but it also hurts the team,’’ Ryan said. “Sometimes you have to weight what’s best for the team. That’s not being tough and physical. There’s no excuse for it.’’

Ihedigbo told The Post he’s so eager to help the team in the aftermath of this incident that he’s already been studying up on Miami, the Jets’ next opponent.

“I understand the decision that was made,’’ Ihedigbo said. “There are consequences for your actions. I’m putting it behind me and it’s never going to happen again.’’

****

Though WRs Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith again sat out team drills in practice, Ryan said he believes at least one of them will play. He said he thinks Cotchery “has a real shot to play.’’

CB Lito Sheppard, however, has no shot to play, according to Ryan, who said he’d be “out’’ with his re-aggravated quadriceps injury. Dwight Lowery, who had an INT last week, will start in his place for the fourth time in five games. Nickel back Donald Strickland (ankle) looks like he’ll return after missing the last four games.

RT Damien Woody, who’s missed practice all week with foot and knee ailments, said he’ll definitely play. … Ryan made a point to say that Sanchez “looked really good’’ in practice. Sanchez threw a “game-winning’’ TD pass to Wallace Wright on a fourth-and-10 play in the two-minute drill to end practice.

****

Jets DT Howard Green, who was released last Saturday to make room for Danny Woodhead on the roster but re-signed Monday after Kris Jenkins was put on IR, revealed to The Post yesterday that “five or six teams’’ inquired about him signing with them over the weekend. Green, though, said he never had any intention of going elsewhere.