HOUSTON — Bryan Cox never made it to the Super Bowl when he was a player for the Jets, but he earned a ring with the Patriots in 2002 and now is enjoying his trip to the Big Game as the Falcons’ defensive line coach.
“I’m happy, man,’’ Cox said. “I’m enjoying life. I have a job and there are only 32 of them in the world and I’m here at the Super Bowl coaching one of the two teams left. So I have nothing but a smile on my face. I’m thankful, grateful and humbled to have this opportunity.’’
Cox, who played for the Jets from 1998-2000, came within one half of making the Super Bowl when he played for Bill Parcells and Gang Green lost to the Broncos in the AFC Championship. Three year later, as a member of the Patriots, he won a Super Bowl ring as a player.
This week is the first time he has been back since New England’s 2001 season.
Despite the Patriots’ win in Super Bowl XXXVI, the game is a painful memory for Cox, because he was hurt and didn’t play much.
“I was in uniform, but I played about five plays,’’ he said. “I remember [Bill] Belichick telling Romeo [Crennel, the defensive coordinator], ‘Don’t put him back in the game.’ ’’
Asked why, Cox said, “Because I couldn’t cover [Rams running back] Marshall Faulk.’’
Having been in New England and played for Belichick, Cox knows what to expect Sunday.
“The thing you take away is that they are not going to beat themselves,’’ Cox said. “You have to understand that.’’
Asked to describe Belichick, Cox said, “Direct and honest.’’
“Hey, I love the man,’’ Cox said. “He changed what a lot of people think about me [as a loose cannon]. But at the end of the day I am the enemy this week, so I am not going around this week tooting his horn.’’
Among the things Cox has been preaching to his players: “It is not about what they do, it’s about what we do.’’
Another: “You have to prepare and put yourself in the position where you play the game in your mind so by the time Sunday comes it’s really easy and you just go out there and have fun and play like you did as a little kid out in the yard.’’
Cox began his playing career with the Dolphins in 1991, then played for the Bears, Jets, Patriots and Saints, where he ended his career after the 2002 season.
He coached for the Jets, Browns, Dolphins and Buccaneers before he joined the Falcons in 2014.
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