Eric Decker is standing up for his wife for standing up to Jets fans for him on Twitter.
The veteran wide receiver on Friday laughed off as “comical” the dustup this week over nasty online comments from some Gang Green fans that prompted wife Jessie James Decker to fire back and then delete her Twitter account.
Decker said his wife plans to reactivate the account and that he wasn’t disappointed in her for the mini-controversy.
“She wasn’t attacking just fans; she was attacking the people that were saying negative comments, and I’ve got a lot of respect for her,” Decker said. “She’s going to say what a lot of people feel.”
The tiff started earlier this week, when Eric Decker asked Jets fans on Twitter why they liked the team and said he would award a prize for what he considered the best response.
When fans upset about the team’s 1-7 bombarded him with nasty comments, Decker’s wife followed with a tweet critical of “haters.” She then deactivated the account when fans responded by pouncing on her, too.
Eric Decker’s response to the negative Twitter commenters Friday was simple.
“If you don’t like something, don’t say anything — that’s my attitude to those people,” he said. “At the end of the day, she’s got my back. I did a nice gesture as far as reaching out to fans and giving a prize away, so if [fans on Twitter] don’t like that, then don’t about it.”
Decker, though, said he didn’t think this week’s manifestation of the stereotypical angry Jets fan will hurt the team in the future when it comes to signing free agents like himself.
“You’re going to go somewhere because you trust the system and you trust the front office,” he said. “The most important thing is the relationship you build [with the team] and the comfort level you have.
“New York has a giant media market, but you’re still playing football,” Decker added. “The only way you’re going to have trouble is if you allow it be in your backyard or look for trouble. It’s the same anywhere.”
Rex Ryan didn’t appear happy Friday with Chris Johnson’s comment earlier in the week that the Jets’ 1-7 start has dimmed his excitement for the rest of the season.
“You’re a professional football player, and there’s a lot to get excited about in my opinion,” Ryan said. “We’ve got half a season in front of us. You’re a rare guy to be able to play at this level and to be chosen to play at this level. So, I think to put your physical skill-set out there each week I think’s an honor.
“At the same time, I understand where Chris is coming from in the fact that nobody thought this is where we’d be. You want to play, as they say, ‘meaningful games.’ But they’re all meaningful games. It just might not be where we want them to be right now.”
Johnson told ESPN on Thursday that “there’s nothing to be excited about or look forward to.”
The organizers of firejohnidzik.com said they had raised $5,880 in the first 24 hours toward the $10,000 cost of an anti-John Idzik billboard they’re hoping to advertise on near MetLife Stadium.
“It’s unbelievable how fast the money is coming in,” said Jason Koeppel, one of the organizers and a 35-year-old season-ticket holder from Hackensack, N.J.
Cornerback Darrin Walls was listed as doubtful for Sunday because of calf and knee injuries, leaving the Jets even more hamstrung at that position than normal.
Asked Friday who would start at corner against the Chiefs, Ryan said: “That’s a good question. With Walls being doubtful, I think all of them will play at some point.”
Kansas City, meanwhile, listed star safety Eric Berry (ankle) as probable Friday after he had been limited in practice all week.