Posts tagged Rex Ryan
NFL 2010 AFC Championship
Jan 19th
New York Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday 23rd January, 11:30pm UK Time
It seems like a long time ago that Rex Ryan announced shortly into the first episode of Hard Knocks that the Jets were going to win the Super Bowl; that they were the best and this was the year. Now, going into the conference championship for the second consecutive season they’ll be hoping to get past the hurdle they fell at last year.
The Steelers started this season under a cloud of controversy and talk of their starting QB being traded. Coach Mike Tomlin kept the ship steady and really it’s no surprise to see the Steelers competing – again – in the Championship game.
Heinz Field
Apart from the game this season, these teams hadn’t met since 2007. A lot has happened since then, like the Steelers winning the Super Bowl in 2008 and the resurgence of the Jets under Rex Ryan. Let’s take a look at the last few meetings
Rex Ryan and Humble Pie
Jan 13th
With T-Rex “talking the talk” this week, you can’t help but think a massive portion of humble pie is due his way. And no, not the late 60s-early 70s outfit that are probably most famous today for winning Stillwater’s groupies in Almost Famous (though they are included here for your pleasure, Steve Marriott pictured courtesy of Dina Regime.)
With the bluster, trash-talking and attention that Ryan generates he reminds me very much of soccer manager Jose Mourinho. The manager (or coach in this instance) draws the attention away from his team and players and onto himself. It’s an admirable quality when he’s your manager but there’s no mistake that he’s a nuisance if he’s the opposition manager.
I like Rex Ryan, and I think the game is richer and certainly more entertaining for having him in it. But he’s heading for a fall this weekend.
Or if he’s not, then I’ll be the one eating up humble pie come Monday.
What I Learned From HBO’s Hard Knocks
Sep 11th
HBO’s Hard Knocks – Training Camp With The New York Jets behind-the-scenes NFL program finished this week, it’s 5 week run seeming far too short but leaving plenty of memorable moments and lessons learned. It’s not perfect, and it’s careful to present the Jets in a certain way, there are plenty of narrative shortcuts too but it gives a good look at a club with high ambitions for the 2010 NFL Season.
If you get the chance to watch it, which is admittedly difficult in the UK, then it’s definitely worth a look regardless of your personal team allegiance.
What are the key lessons that we could take from this season of the show?
1 – Rex Ryan Is Really Funny
The series pretty much opened with Rex wondering if they could win the Super Bowl without star corner (then on holdout) Darelle Revis, then stating. “I dunno, he’s pretty ****ing good.” and making me laugh from there on out.
More >
NFL Is Back In Abundance
Sep 10th
Special Report from Joshua Modaberi:
After seven months away the NFL was back last night with the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings in a repeat of last years NFC Championship match.
The Saints came out on top in that encounter which they won in overtime 31-28. New Orleans then went on to win their first Super Bowl against the Indianapolis Colts in Miami 31-17.
Sean Payton’s side continued from where they left off last season by beating the Vikings 14-9.
The NFL is a bit like a London double decker bus – having been away since February, this weekend in the UK there are still another five games on TV.
Joshua Modaberi has caught up with Kevin Cadle from Sky Sports and Dan Arkush from Pro Football Weekly to discuss the remaining television fixtures over the opening weekend.
Kevin Cadle on
Carolina @ NY Giants Live on Sky Sports 4 Sunday from 17.30:
“I don’t think you can look past the New York giants in this one, they are going to be opening the brand new stadium.
“Eli Manning is probably coming off his best season ever as a pro. Wide Receiver Steve Smith really came out and did a great job last year receiving the ball and Ahmad Bradshaw has established himself as the number one running back.
“You are still going to have to look at what the Giants are going to do defensively and that will be the key to their season. On Sunday they are going to have to go out there and do something with Carolina’s dynamic duo – they had two guys running 4,000 yards last year so you know they are going to be looking to run the football against the Giants.”
San Francisco @ Seattle Live on Sky Sports 4 Sunday from 21.00:
“We don’t know a lot about Seattle, right now you don’t know if Pete Carroll thinking is as a head coach of this particular team.
“What kind of team are the going to have, you have Justin Forsett as the top running back, and he’s only about 5’6 on a good day. With Seattle I think the betting will be out for them until teams can see exactly what they emphasise and what they are doing on both the offensive and defensive edge.
“As for San Francisco we know all about them, Mike Singletary has put a stamp on that defence and the defence is going to get better and better.
“Offensively I think the San Francisco organisation has done a tremendous job as far as trying to assist the role of Alex smith. Last year they brought in Michael Crabtree and now this year you have two new offensive linemen who where the top two draft choices – so they are trying to do whatever they can to get things in order for Alex Smith to be as successful as he can possibly be.”
Dan Arkush on
Dallas @ Washington Live on Channel 4 Monday from 00.55:
“Dallas in terms of pure talent probably have the most talented team in the league. That doesn’t necessarily mean they will get to the Super Bowl by any means.
“I think in this game they match up well against their opponents the Redskins. Nobody can really get a firm reading on what the deal is going to be with Washington.
“They have a new head coach in Mike Shanahan, who was a very successful head coach with the Broncos. By all accounts he seems to be heading in the right direction with the Redskins. Donovan McNabb is another great addition to Washington, but I think Dallas is going to win this game with the Super Bowl in Dallas they are going to want to have a good season and get off to a winning start.”
Tiny Tony v Mini T-Rex
Aug 9th
Ok, I know what you are thinking this is kind of a no news story. In fact I could probably post it on Yahoo ‘news’ and get it as the headline story it is so irrelevant (‘Something happened…what?’). Well, maybe so, but it has not escaped my attention that there is a large population of UK NFL fans which are well…..part of the large population! I am not saying there is anything wrong with that. I am also part of that growing community.
In the AFC East there has been a battle going on behind the scenes. For the last couple of years there has been a struggle between the the Jets and the Dolphins head coaches. Not only to topple the long dominant New England Patriots from the top spot but also seemingly how much pie they can hide away before and after their touchline tangles.
Both coaches have bought a new way of thinking and playing to their respective teams, but both left fans feeling that they didn’t want to see their coaches in too much stress, because, well, the stress looked like it might kill them.
Fear not Jets and Phins fans, this years off-season has not only been a training ground for new talent, but also for the emergence of a couple of familiar but slightly healthier looking top men. Rex T-Rex Ryan opted for (or maybe was told to have) a band fitted to help end his obesity and has lost over 40lbs. Sparano on the other hand took the natural path, and though I am not sure how much he has lost, I would estimate the same amount after seeing him at recent press conferences. Impressive weight loss figures for both of the big men
So, it seems like there is a new physiological war between two great coaches this year. Yards on the field and inches around the waist. By the end of this season we may see less of the blood red faces on the touchline. Good for them I say, a geat example for the rest of us. Lets just hope none of their power is hidden within their ample guts and it is not a case of you need a big hammer to drive a long nail (as my Dad used to say 
) More >
First Look 2010… AFC East
Jun 14th
We all know that predicting the divisions before the season has started can be, well, lets say – tricky! However, it is one of the things that we love doing and something that serves as a reference point for the changing fortunes of teams throughout the year. Oh, and more importantly means we can refer back to the awful predictions each other made as the year goes on!.
NFL News Round-up Tuesday 29th Sep
Sep 29th
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys finally got to enjoy a win in their new stadium, and while it has only been a week it must have felt like a long one. A crowd of 90,588 watched them take a 21 – 7 win over the Panthers.
Miami Dolphins
More bad news for the Dolphins today as Chad Pennington may be out for the rest of the season with a dislocated shoulder.
The other Chad – Chad Henne will likely start on Sunday and has to step right in with the pressure of a much needed win on him.
More >
NY Jets Rex Ryan’s Struggle with Dyslexia
Jun 25th
Even as a Dolphins fan I have to admire the T-Rex for speaking his mind on his problems with dyslexia. It is revelations like this that give people an honest side that you can relate to.
Rex Ryan the 46 year old new Head Coach of the NY Jets was only diagnosed a couple of years ago, but it goes to show that disability needn’t hold anyone back.