Horrid media tour appearances notwithstanding, Rex Ryan seems to be doing well with his new book. It’s holding its own on Amazon and is getting generally positive reviews. I won’t be able to enjoy it until the Japanese version comes out, then my masseuse can read it to me. Kiko gets so confused with all of the football jargon, but she really makes a go of it. Askews pleese. Wat ees kawterback? She tries so hard.

Anyway, there’s an anecdote in the book about Ryan’s arrival at the Jets’ practice facility in 2009, and I should just let the Examiner take it from here:

“The head coach’s office in the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center has this floor to ceiling window that looks out over the rest of the offices and cubicles. But when I arrived, the windows were all painted over.

I believe the people working there, the assistant coaches, the players, everybody should be able to look in and see the head coach; but for whatever reason, Mangini had them covered. I don’t know exactly why because I never asked him. I want my players and coaches to know they are welcome to come up to me at any time. I want them to see me and feel comfortable. Not only is the door open, the windows are open. I’m an open book for those guys.”

The windows are open, which also means that Ryan can see his players and assistants as well. No jelly donut is safe in the Jets’ facility now. Img.

Rob Ryan is the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, and his success of his charges of late have him as one of the hottest head coaching candidates heading into the offseason. But Rob’s Browns–after dispensing of the Patriots Sunday–are set to play Rex’s Jets, and naturally, each guy has his own opinion of which Ryan will prevail.

The trash talking even extended to whiffle ball, a Ryan family pastime.

Rob: “I absolutely kill him. His bat’s tardy.”

Rex: “He’s delusional. I buckle him with the knuckle curve. He’s never been the same since I hit him in the head with a golf ball when we were 10.”

Growing up in Toronto, the Ryan brothers played backyard football, with Jim, older by six years, pitted against the twins. Their games had one rule: if you did not dispense cheap shots, you were penalized. In one contest, Rex or Rob, Jim cannot remember which, slid down a snowbank into a moving vehicle. In another, Rob celebrated before he reached the goal line, then turned smack into a tree. –NYT.

That rivalry helped prompt Rex to dress up like his brother at a press conference earlier today. Not bad, but he reminds me more of that kid from “American Chopper.”

If that isn’t the pot calling the kettle fat, I don’t know what is. I can’t wait to hear what Tony Dungy thinks about this. Actually, I can. Because I don’t care.

Thanks, Nolan. Img via Manish Mehta.

It seems that my comments about the certain language used by New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan have generated a little bit of controversy. First of all, let me explain that as an NFL analyst, I automatically know more than all of the 32 current head coaches that haven’t been fired from their jobs, like I was. I gotta tell you, it’s much easier to be an offensive guru when you can criticize other people’s schemes without executing one of your own. But that aside, I feel compelled to clarify some of those remarks about “certain language,” and I’m happy to do so in this space. Read the rest of this entry »

NFL star displays questionable judgment in Georgia. Dolphins running Ronnie Brown back was in Georgia this weekend when he was pulled over for changing lanes without signaling. OUTRAGE! The police haven’t come right out and said that Brown was drunk, although he “did not perform well” during a field sobriety test. But hey, if it he really was drunk then one might say he performed admirably. Brown was booked on suspicion of DUI, and honestly, what is that? Do they give a Nobel prize for suspicion of chemistry? Do they? [Miami Herald]

Chad Henne should probably stop talking for a while. Elsewhere in the Land of Dolphins, quarterback Chad Henne chimed in on another player’s worth. This time around his comments weren’t critical, although they probably should have been. Henne was talking to the Miami Herald about newly signed offensive lineman/perpetual penalty machine Richie Incognito when he said, “We want a guy in there that’s going to go hard every play. He’s definitely going to help out our offensive line and open up the competition.” As soon as the words were out of Henne’s mouth Incognito headbutted one Herald reporter while allowing another to sack Henne for a 10 yard loss.

Rex Ryan is hungry. “I’d kill to eat something right now,” Rex Ryan said as dozens of woodland creatures fled for higher ground. [Fifth Down Blog]