The San Diego Chargers have never won a Super Bowl.
New York Jets coach Rex Ryan said Wednesday that would have changed by now if Chargers general manager A.J. Smith hired him in 2007. Smith ultimately chose Norv Turner, the current coach.
The two teams will meet Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
"Well, I think I would have had a couple of rings," Ryan said with a laugh during a conference call with San Diego media. "I'm tellin' ya. Those teams were loaded. There's no question about it. But things happen for a reason. Obviously, Norv Turner has done a great job there, and A.J. and everybody. That's a great franchise, and he's probably the best guy for the job at that time."
Norv Turner, players respond to Rex Ryan's comment
Local
Ryan added he was happy Smith gave him the opportunity because "quite honestly, I wasn't on anybody's radar."
"There were like 10 openings," Ryan said. "He was the only person that had interviewed me. I thought that opened some doors for me. The next year, I had three interviews. I never got any (offers), so I must have done a terrible job in the interview process.
"But one thing is I was always myself. If someone was going to hire me, the only thing I wanted is that they would allow me to be myself. I'm real fortunate I was given the opportunity here with the Jets."
Ryan, when asked what he could have brought to the table to lift the Chargers over the Super Bowl hump, said he had "no idea."
According to Jenny Vrentas, Jets beat writer for the Star-Ledger, Ryan called Turner shortly after the conference call to clarify his Super Bowl rings comment, saying he did not mean it as a slight to him.
Jackson, Gates Look Sharp
It's only Wednesday, but Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson and tight end Antonio Gates are passing the eye test.
Jackson, after sitting out Monday's practice with a hamstring injury, was able to run at full speed during the open session of practice.
So far, Gates doesn't seem to have suffered any setback after testing his plantar fascia injury during Monday's practice. He was able to chop his feet and moving around well with no visible signs of discomfort.
Both were limited participants in practice. Cornerback Marcus Gilchrist also did not practice in full.
Defensive end Luis Castillo was the only Chargers player not to participate.
