DAVIE, Fla. -- Remember the "hot sauce" comment by the New York Jets?

Jets coach Rex Ryan said, leading up to their first meeting with the Dolphins in Week 3, that Reggie Bush would get a little "hot sauce." Bush wound up injuring his knee before halftime against the Jets and wasn’t happy about it. He felt the Jets entered the game looking to hurt him.

Bush later upset the Jets by saying they got what they deserved when New York Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis (knee) was lost for the season in the same game. That didn’t sit well in New York.

But Ryan apologized for his “hot sauce” comment as the rivals prepare to meet Sunday.

“For him, I don’t want an apology, and obviously I hope he’s taken mine and understand the sincerity,” Ryan said in a conference call with Dolphins media. “Reggie Bush is such a player that we are going to pay special attention to him. And I got news for him: We’re going to do it this week also. We have to know where he is and all that kind of stuff. That’s what I meant. I certainly don’t want to see him hurt, ever.”

Apparently Bush still has hard feelings. He wasn't very accepting of Ryan’s apology Wednesday.

"I don’t believe that. I don’t believe that at all,” Bush said. “But it is what it is. Like I said, the great thing about divisional games is you get to play them twice.”

Things could get chippy again from both rivals, but Bush said he’s not worried about it. If anything, he’s more prepared this time.

“Retaliation? They’re the ones who started it,” Bush said. “If there was ever any retaliation, it would come from us. But you know what? With this team, and the caliber of guys and character of guys that we have, we play with respect for the game.

“It’s football. I didn’t go and complain or whine about being a target of the Jets. I expect that every game. So I wouldn’t expect it to be any different this game.”

Bush’s production has gone down since his knee injury. He hasn’t rushed for more than 67 yards or averaged more than 3.9 yards per carry in the past three games.

Two weeks of rest could be huge for Bush. The Dolphins are trying to re-establish their running game, and Bush is a huge part of that.

“I’m definitely a lot stronger than what I was a couple of weeks ago,” Bush said. “I feel a lot better, about as healthy as you can get at this point of the season.”