Thought this was a good article from someone outside the jets circle and worth sharing. http://www.indystar.com/article/201...-love-Rex-Ryan?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Colts Kravitz: There's a lot to love with Rex Ryan Jan 7, 2011 *| * 46 Comments It is amusing now to hear how Rex Ryan is some kind of loudmouth lout, how his honesty and bluster have, in two years, reduced him to some kind of lamentable cartoon character. It is amusing to read it and hear it locally, and it is especially amusing to read it coming out of New York, where the Jets coach has all but written the back-page headlines for two years. New York Daily News columnist Mike Lupica, calling the Jets " the noisiest No. 6 (seed) in all of pro football history," wrote Thursday, "You can't talk this much and not even get out of the first round. This time Rex really does need to put up or shut up." Can I make a confession? I love Rex Ryan. I love what he has brought to pro football, love the bravado, love the fact he's not afraid to tear down the barrier between his brain and his tongue. I even love the fact he and his wife seem to have things they enjoy doing together, even if they're a little bit, well, freaky. He is a kaleidoscope in a vanilla league. He's a live wire in a league where most coaches and players are cliché-spouting flat-liners. He says what he thinks, doesn't care what anybody thinks about what he says, and makes football -- a game, at its essence -- feel like fun. I asked Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday the other day if he gets a kick out of Ryan. He smiled. "I do, I do," he said. "I think he does a lot to pub his team and he gets guys excited. I don't think he ever says anything that other coaches and players haven't thought or said. He just says it. I think he makes it fun and I think he is honest. I don't think he ever disrespects teams. He says it and stands up for his own." I am not professing my fondness for Ryan simply because he makes the media's job easier -- although he does, and thank you, by the way. But I've been through too many football news conferences, and after most of them, I want to remove my frontal lobe with a pair of chopsticks. They are equal parts soul-numbing and painful. A media briefing with New England coach Bill Belichick is less fun than a cactus enema. We need more Ryans. Except for serial prude and former Colts coach Tony Dungy, tell me, who didn't love HBO's "Hard Knocks?" (Here's hoping Tony didn't check in on HBO's 24/7 on the Penguins-Capitals. Washington coach Bruce Boudreau made Ryan sound like a Sunday school teacher.) So he talks openly about having the best team and winning the Super Bowl. So he says it's "personal" between him and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, and that the Colts are "vulnerable." What's wrong with any of that? When did saying absolutely nothing of interest become synonymous with "having class?" I don't get fans and often I don't get factions of the media. We want athletes and coaches to be compelling, but the moment they say something we find mildly objectionable, the moment they lose, they become loudmouth jerks who should watch their tongues. "He is who he is," Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. "He is authentic, that's for sure, and I very rarely judge anybody. Everybody has their own personality and thus they have to live by it and that's what he does." That's the thing: It's not an act. It's not an act for Ryan, who probably talks in his sleep. And it's not an act for Caldwell, who is soft-spoken, thoughtful and intellectually curious. The important thing is, both men are true to themselves, and both are very good at what they do. "Night and day, oil and water," Colts defensive lineman Robert Mathis said, comparing Ryan and Caldwell. You want to get Ryan talking, you turn on the tape recorder. You want to get Caldwell engaged, you talk about books and movies. "What do they say, 'There are several ways to skin a cat?' " Caldwell said. ". . . I am not judged by whether or not I give a dissertation or great oration or am quotable or not quotable. "If that was the case, I have a lot of ministers in my family; I think I could put on a pretty good sermon from time to time." It has been suggested that Ryan is a perfect fit for New York and Caldwell embodies Hoosier values. There's great truth to that. But I think Ryan would work well here, as long as he won. And Caldwell would make it in New York, again, if he won. Seriously, we had Bob Knight for all those years. We had Reggie Miller, one of history's great smack-talkers. But they were great, and they won, and we loved their bravado. Whatever happens Saturday and the rest of this postseason, I hope Ryan doesn't stop talking. He is great for his team and good for his game. Honesty -- and fun -- should never go out of style.
Agreed... but the are sooo many moralists in this league (Goodell first) who want to take all the fun out of what is actually a game! Like Ochocinco's fines for celebrations... really!?
great read. i think the main point that this article makes, that is lost on most, is that he's not really saying anything other coaches and players don't... he just openly says it. the people that have problems with it, probably either don't realize its something everyone in the league says/does/believes or don't know competition.
I love that quote: "A media briefing with New England coach Bill Belichick is less fun than a cactus enema." At least you can never say that about Rex!
This article should be mandatory reading for anyone commenting on Rex Ryan. Be who you are and don't change for anyone, especially the PC police.
i gotta say, there's really been mostly positive things coming from the media and fans of indy... its hard to vilify these peeps when their using their noggin'
This is my favorite line When did saying absolutely nothing of interest become synonymous with "having class?" I think way too many people equate rex's open confidence in his team as classless
I loved that line too. Having "class" now means that you try your very best to not make anyone upset with anything you say. Having class does not mean never having an opinion.
This franchise hasn't won shit with quiet, reserved coaches over the past four decades either, so I could really care less what Rex's detractors say. Might as well give it a shot and enjoy the ride.
finally, an objective perspective. The NY media are jokes (and in this Iinclude the NYpapers, radio and TV). I've never seen a bunch of people talk out of both sides or their collective mouth so often. They've really turned on Rex for whatever reason (closet Giant fans perhaps??) I mean everything he says get dissected, taken out of context etc....and furher, I've said this at the beginning of the season, his comments often get jumbled up into "Jets talking smack" which i haven't seen anywhere all year, yet it's like the gospel. even that weasle Lupica saying their the chattiest 6th seed or whatever...........who exactly on the team is talking? further, i can't listen to 1050 or the FAN lately as both stations do nothing but bash.
great article and it is exactly how i feel about Rex. He talks...doesn't filter himself, and is nice about. If he were a smak talker and did it in a mean way it would be something to get upset over, but he just talks up his team and gives honest opinions. He never badmouths an opponent, player, or coach -- just says what everyone thinks. He just loves what he is doing and i don't see anything wrong with that at all.
"A media briefing with New England coach Bill Belichick is less fun than a cactus enema." Please, lets not give Rex and his wife anymore ideas.
The media hasn't turned on Rex...some of the columnists are stating it's fish or cut bait. The beat writers continue to love Rex as it makes their jobs alot easier. Go ask Hank Gola or Paul Schwartz what it was like to cover Bill Parcells....and then cover Ray Handley. Go ask Steve Serby or Mark Cannizzaro or Paul Needell or Rich Cimini (although I think he started later) what it was like to cover Joe Walton...then Bruce Coslet. The only thing I don't like about Rex's honesty is I think he's deluding himself at times, like on how good his defense is. Would love for him to shove it in my face tomorrow night and next Sunday.
