BY NICK ST. DENIS
Just as he has all week, Chris Ivory said Sunday evening that he approached the New York Jets' Week 9 bout with his former team, the New Orleans Saints, "like just another game."
If Ivory truly was indifferent Sunday, it didn't look like it.
The bruising Gang Green tailback ran with attitude and conviction on his way to an 18-carry, 139-yard showing, capping it off with a touchdown run and an upset victory.
Ivory's head coach, Rex Ryan, said after the game what everyone assumed but Ivory himself was not willing to admit.
"To say that there’s nothing special about going against your old team —
yeah, right," Ryan said, via NewYorkJets.com. "There always is, no matter who it is, whether it’s high
school, college or pro. It makes no difference. You want to play against
your former team and have a good showing, and clearly he did."
Ivory is a tough-yardage runner, but he showed plenty of burst in his latest performance, tallying runs of 52, 30 and 27 yards.
The Saints knew what kind of back he was when they traded him for a fourth-round pick last spring. New Orleans, however, didn't have room for him in its crowded backfield. The Jets did, and they're glad of it, despite his occasional injury setbacks.
"The kid’s been battling injuries since he’s been here and every time he’s getting the keys to the car, he’s driven it right through defenses," guard Willie Colon said, "so I’m proud of him.”
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