Rex Ryan: It's on That was among the more memorable quotes - and there were a lot - to come out of the mouth of the new Jets coach today. He, of course, opened with a doozy. Looking at all the cameras and media, Ryan said, "With all the cameras and all that I was looking for our new president back there." Pause. "You know, I think we'll get to meet him the next couple years anyway." Indeed, his opening statement pretty much said it all. I rather liked this one as well: "The only way I know how to handle a challenge is to hit that thing head on, and that's what we're going to do," Ryan said. "The message to the rest of the league is, 'Hey, the Jets are coming and we're going to give you everything we've got,' and that's going to be, I think, more than you can handle. We're going to find out." Those wanting an in-your-face coach, you got one. As for coaches, there were a few announcements. Mike Pettine came over from the Ravens and is the defensive coordinator, and Mike Westhoff (specials teams) and Bill Callahan (offensive line) will remain. Ryan said he had not yet sat down with Brian Schottenheimer but would likely ask him to stay. Ryan mentioned his disappointment at not getting the Ravens job last year but coming back this year as John Harbaugh's defensive coordinator and bolstering his resume. As for Brett Favre, Ryan wasn't quite as direct as he was with other issues. "I would think anybody would want him as their quarterback," Ryan said. But don't get too carried away with that. Later Ryan, without saying it directly, made it clear he didn't want this will-he-or-won't-he routine to continue deep into this offseason. And if Favre decides he wants to come back, Ryan strongly hinted that he would expect the quarterback to participate in the offseason program. Ryan was on the sideline for Super Bowl III [Buddy was an assistant on Weeb Ewbank's staff as you know] and said he grew up a Jets fan. "I know Jets fans," Ryan said. "This is going to be great, man. This is a great marriage right here, I can honestly say." Ryan rephrased a form of a quote I had used here while the Ravens were in the playoffs. "I'm not blessed with a silver tongue, but I know one thing," Ryan said. "I know how to coach this game, and I can't wait for the opportunity to line it up and get after it." Time to do some newspaper stuff. Hoping to get a live chat scheduled for sometime this week to go over a bunch of things that I'm sure you're curious about. Don't rule out, by the way, the prospect of some of those free agents from Baltimore coming aboard. Ryan can't talk about those guys [it's tampering] right now and can't until free agency officially starts, but let's just say there was a strong sense he would be interested in one or two of those guys. Posted by Erik Boland on January 21, 2009 1:42 PM
I second that. I hope Rex is as good as he thinks he is, too. I'm sure there's a thread for it, but I'm calling: Bart Scott, Trevor Pryce and Jim Leonhard.
When Ryan said, "you know, to me, we have the best corner in football," maybe he was referring to Ty Law.
