Rex Ryan said on Friday that the Jets will be "ready to play" on Monday night. (AP)

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Here are the four things you really, really need to know about the Jets following Friday’s practice (would a third “really” have been over the top?):

1. Losing Jim Leonhard for the season is a massive hit. Rex Ryan was a long way from wacky (meaning no wigs and no Tom Brady jokes) as he made his way to the podium for his press conference after practice, and it was quickly apparent why his mood was somber if not stunned. Leonhard – described as the “heart and soul of the defense” by a number of players on Friday – suffered a severe injury to his right shin at the end of practice and is out for Monday night and the rest of the 2010 season.

“It’s a huge blow to us,” said Ryan of the injury. “This is a big loss for us. An excellent football player … just a huge part of what we do.”

Leonhard has 66 tackles, one interception and a fumble recovery this season, but according to defensive coordinator Mike Pettine his value cannot be measured only by statistics.

“A lot of it starts with off the field,” said Pettine. “He’s not just a great football player, but a great person. His personality … keeps the room very light. On the field, he really did quarterback the back end, he was a big part of getting guys lined up and he was usually a guy who was in the right place at the right time doing his job. Again, that’s something we are really going to miss.”

Perhaps the biggest compliment paid to Leonhard on Friday was by Jets quarterback Mark Brunell, who told WEEI.com that the safety is “a Tedy Bruschi type.”

Ryan indicated that Eric Smith will likely get the start at safety in Leonhard’s place on Monday.

2. LaDainian Tomlinson hates the Patriots. Can you really blame him? The two toughest losses of his NFL career have to be the 2006 Divisional playoff loss to the Pats (the 14-2 Chargers fall at home to a serious flawed New England team, thanks to Marlon McRee and Reche Caldwell) and the 2007 AFC Title Game in Foxboro (“coldest day of my life,” Tomlinson said Friday). The Patriots have always been in the way. And now, here comes the biggest game of the regular season for Tomlinson and his new team. And guess who is waiting?

“There’s just so much at stake, it’s huge,” said Tomlinson. “It’s a different day and time. The focus is on this team. It’s a different matchup. The rivalry is even much bigger than I expected. You don’t really realize it until you get in it. It didn’t help with Tom Brady saying, ‘I hate the Jets,’ you know? Ok, we hate you too.”

Tomlinson, who later added that he “really respects” Bill Belichick and the Patriots, has slowed down after a fast start to the 2010 season. He failed to average fewer than 4.7 yards per carry in any of the first five games of the season (including a 6.9 yard average in Week 2 vs. the Patriots – 76 yards on 11 carries) but hasn’t bettered the 3.8 average in the last six games.

3. Mike Westhoff knows about shrinkage. The highly-regarded special teams coach – and my personal MVP of “Hard Knocks” – was asked why struggling kicker Nick Folk’s kickoffs have been shorter over the past couple of weeks.

“It’s getting cold,” Westhoff said. “Getting short everywhere. You ever watch “Seinfeld?”

Westhoff admitted that he was “frustrated” with Folk’s performance as of late, as the kicker has missed five of his last 10 field goals, but “has not lost any confidence in him whatsoever” and mentioned that he had his best week of practice this year. Perhaps a more pressing concern in at punt returner, a spot that has  been occupied by Leonhard this season.

“You’re losing the eighth-ranked punt returner in the NFL with Jimmy,” said Westhoff. “So that’s a loss.”

Westhoff indicated that Jerricho Cotchery will “be involved” in returning punts, but would not rule out a possible role for Santonio Holmes, who will be ready to serve if asked.

“I’m a professional,” said Holmes. “I’ve played punt returner for four years and would be happy to do it for a fifth. I would be ecstatic to get back there and get a good feel, see what happens.”

4. Rex Ryan can read between the lines. He was wrapping up his press conference – and doing a swell job of avoiding headline fodder – when he was asked if his team would be ready for Monday night.

“We’re ready – we are ready to play,” said Ryan. “There’s no doubt. We know New England is. I know they say we are a great team and I see the sarcasm. But they are going to find out if we are a great team or not, I can tell you that much.”

Uh-oh. So close and yet so far away, as Hall and Oates once sang (the duo isn’t from Jersey, but Philly is close enough). And how, exactly, did Rex know that the Patriots were being sarcastic in praise of the Jets?

“I just sense it,” said Ryan. “They all have the same comment. You know, ‘we will just say this and this’ but you know what? We’re coming, we will show up and see what happens.”