DE Shaun Ellis (knee) did not practice today and will be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Rex Ryan, however, said he will play. Ellis was key to stopping the Patriots’ offense last week.

Also listed as questionable are CB Drew Coleman (knee), S James Ihedigbo (knee/ankle) and WR/KR Brad Smith. Ryan said that that he expects them all to play.

Smith looked to be more involved in practice today than he did last Friday. All week he said that he’s planning to play.  

“He looked great. We’re ready to roll. No excuses.”

Ryan laughed off the apparent concern of fans that the Jets did not do enough trash talking this week. There is apparently a theory that the Jets need the verbal build up, like they had against the Patriots and Colts, to be ready for their game Sunday.

“I can assure you we’re going to play well,” Ryan said

“We want the (AFC Champions) T-shirt, the hat and everything.”

Emphasizing that they are ready to go, Ryan said “they have six Super Bowl Trophies, if they want to put them on the field, we’ll play them too.”

LaDainian Tomlinson said yesterday that the AFC Championship game is the worst one to lose, because you come so close and have nothing to show for it. That was something QB Mark Sanchez said he only really understood much later.

“I knew we were only 60 minutes away, but I didn’t really realize it until two weeks later. Then the whole offseason you had to think you were just a quarter and a half away,” Sanchez said. “Then we go back to Cortland for training camp and realize were just trying to get back there for another chance.”

Apparently the Colts AFC Championship celebration, which included blue-and-white confetti, made a big impression on the Jets last year.

Ryan said that the memory of “having confetti dropped all over our heads with some other team’s colors on it,” was motivation.

Players had a passage from former NBA great Bill Russell on the stools in front of their lockers when they came in from practice today.

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Sanchez said his right shoulder felt the best it has last week against the Patriots and “feels even better,” this week.