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Rex Ryan did not hold back on Jets receiver Elijah Moore.

The former Jets head coach ripped the 22-year-old during ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” after he requested a trade earlier in the week.

“So Elijah Moore requests a trade after the team has won three straight games,” Ryan said. “What’s he played, 20 games in the league already? Are you kidding? You know how hard it is to win in this league? Elijah Moore, you need to grow up. I love the Jets. Always been a fan of the Jets. My dad coached there for eight years, I coached there for forever. I’m sorry, but this right here, I’m not a fan of yours.

“You need to grow up, OK, Elijah Moore? You’re watching at home. Are you kidding me? Why aren’t you with your football team? Grow up. The greatest players of our sport want to win over anything else.”


  Rex Ryan during ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” on Oct. 23, 2022. ESPN Rex Ryan during ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” on Oct. 23, 2022. ESPN

Ryan then turned to Hall of Famer Randy Moss, who was sitting beside him.

“Randy, if you never caught a ball, it’s like, okay … That would never happen by the way, because you couldn’t hold his jock as a player,” Ryan continued, appearing to be addressing Moore by pointing toward the camera.

“But you know what? Grow up. Grow up and get on board. This team needs you on board. This guy right here is a special talent, but he needs to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

Moore, 22, was absent from Jets practice on Thursday, when head coach Robert Saleh said the receiver was excused for a “personal reason.” News of Moore’s trade request broke later that day.


  Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during a game against the Steelers on Oct. 2, 2022. USA TODAY Sports Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during a game against the Steelers on Oct. 2, 2022. USA TODAY Sports

Moore wrote a series of cryptic posts on Twitter on Thursday, and after the Jets’ win over the Packers used the social media platform to allude to displeasure over his role in the offense.

“If I say what I really wanna say…I’ll be the selfish guy…we winning. Grateful! Huge blessing! All I ever wanted. Butter sweet for me em but I’ll be solid. So I’ll just stay quiet. Just know I don’t understand either,’’ Moore tweeted.

A second-round pick in 2021, Moore caught 43 passes for 538 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games during a promising rookie season. In 2022, his involvement has dwindled since Zach Wilson returned from injury; Moore had zero targets during the win in Green Bay.

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