Never a shortage of subplots when Jets, Patriots square off

Things have been quiet -- almost too quiet -- surrounding the New York Jets and New England Patriots as they prepare to renew their border war Sunday in Foxborough.

Much of this can be attributed to the struggles of Rex Ryan's Jets, who are coming off two ugly losses. It's difficult to boast about your greatness when you're being summarily destroyed by your opposition.

That said, this is still Jets-Patriots, which means there are plenty of subplots to go around as kickoff approaches.

Let's take a look at where we stand right now:

Brady v. Cromartie II:Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie kicked off the week by saying he still didn't have fond feelings for Tom Brady. As you might remember, Cromartie used an expletive to describe the Patriots quarterback before last season's AFC Divisional Playoff Game. Brady repeatedly was asked Wednesday what he thought about Cromartie's continued trash talk, but the freshly shorn quarterback wasn't biting.

"I don't care what he said about me, I really don't," Brady told the Boston Herald.

Ellis' reunion: Defensive end Shaun Ellis was a first-round draft pick of the Jets way back in 2000, playing his entire career in New York before signing with New England during the offseason. He admitted Wednesday that he still struggles to see himself as anything other than a Jet.

"It's hard," Ellis told the Herald, laughing. "You know what I mean? When you're talking or whatever, (Patriots) will be like, 'You with us now, you ain't over there.' So, just got to re-train my whole thinking. I've been there forever. ... Sometimes, I catch myself saying 'we.' But it's one of them things. It's like, 'Oh, did I say that? I ain't there no more.' "

It's Week 5, Shaun. Let's get this worked out.

Revis on Ocho:Darrelle Revis and Chad Ochocinco share some history. It was during the 2009 regular-season finale when Ochocinco -- then with the Cincinnati Bengals -- said he would change his name back to Chad Johnson if he left "Revis Island" without a catch. Ochocinco was shut out, though he kept the name anyway (Where's the honor, man?) Fast forward two years, and Revis still is talking about his old rival, who has struggled during his first season in New England.

"Only thing I can say is that he should be playing more," Revis said, according to the New York Daily News. "But I'm not the coach. I'm not (Bill) Belichick."

Welker watches his words:Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker was benched for one play in last year's playoffs for a series of not-so-veiled foot references in relation to Ryan. Welker was a guest on "The Rich Eisen Podcast" this week, but he wasn't about to anger his coach again.

When asked by Eisen if there was anything on Ryan he'd like to say, Welker replied: "I ain't gonna bite, Rich. I ain't biting."

Probably a smart move.

Plax thanks Pats: File this one under "Knife, Twisting The." Burress reminisced Wednesday about his touchdown catch that beat the previously undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

"They had single-covered me maybe a handful of times that whole game," Burress told The Boston Globe. "Coming off the NFC Championship Game and the game that we had Week 16 in Giants Stadium, they were really focusing on taking me out of the football game. For them to give me that coverage with that on the line, I didn't think they would, but thank you."

We're sure the Patriots and their fans appreciate the gratitude.