FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets star cornerback Darrelle Revis, who made headlines in March when he called Bill Belichick a "jerk" in an ESPN interview, explained his comments Thursday -- and possibly inflamed the situation even more.

Revis, who made his original remark during a word-association game, said he called out the New England Patriots' coach because he felt Belichick had made "ignorant" and "disrespectful" comments about the Jets.

"They told me to sum him up in one word and I gave my honest opinion," Revis told reporters in the Jets' locker room, adding, "I feel that people let him slide when he says smart remarks on certain things."

Revis said he respects Belichick because "winning is winning." But he quickly added, "When you say certain comments about the Jets, some things are disrespectful. It's OK to have a rivalry, it's OK to compete. But when it gets personal, then it gets disrespectful.

"I didn't start this battle," Revis continued. "It's just the smart comments he says. It's ignorant. It's ignorant (toward) this organization."

Belichick, who served as the Jets' defensive coordinator from 1997 to 1999 before resigning when he was to succeed Bill Parcells as the head coach, is notoriously tight-lipped. But he made a vulgar remark about the Jets after beating them last Nov. 13, 37-16, at Met Life Stadium.

Walking off the field, Belichick put his arm around his son and, according to the New York Post, told him, "Thirty-seven points on the best defense in the league. Suck my d---."

The next day, in an interview with WFAN, Belichick didn't deny the comment.

"Any conservations I had privately, I'll keep private," he said.

It infuriated Revis.