With ax hovering, remains jolly
PUBLICLY, REX RYAN is playing the good soldier despite possibly being in the final days of serving Woody Johnson and John Idzik as coach of the Jets. Behind closed doors may be another story, with Ryan getting angry at a team meeting Saturday evening upon hearing that Jets brass already may have reached out to possible replacement candidates, according to a source. But with six days remaining until the presumed decision on Monday, Ryan swatted away the notion that he is unhappy with
the current uncertainty surrounding his future.
“I’m not disgruntled about anything,” Ryan said Monday.
It’s no surprise that Ryan, who has toed the company line all sea son, i sn’t outwardly displaying frustration even if privately he’s upset. In fact, other than Ryan’s comment that he isn’t disg r u nt led, he mostly sidestepped all questions relating to his status beyond this year.
When asked direct ly i f he had hea rd t he team might have already reached out to potent ia l coach i ng candidates, Ryan danced around the subject.
“Yo u know again, guys, I’m not going there,” Ryan said to reporters. “My focus is just on this Miami thing.” Ryan managed to turn all questions related to his future back to the season finale in Miami. Meanwhile, everyone else is focusing on the Jets future: Which players will still be with the Jets (7-8) in 2014 and who will be the coach?
After three consecutive seasons i n which the Jets have failed to win more than eight games, Ryan may be at the end of the line. He wouldn’t say if he had been approached by Johnson or Idzik to discuss his future.
“You know, guys, it’s our focus, and what we talk about is getting ready to play against the Dolphins, that’s really where the conversations have been,” Ryan said.
Over the past week, countless players have sprung to Ryan’s defense, saying he is the best man for the job. From Willie Colon to Calvin Pace to Antonio Cromartie to Sheldon Richardson, leaders and youngsters alike have l oudly displayed their affect ion for t hei r head coach and desire for him to remain in that position. But that only matters if Idzik and Johnson heed their opinions.
After firing Mike Tannenbauma year ago, Johnson retained Ryan. But unlike then, Idzik is now part of the equation in determining whether Ryan will stay or go.
One argument for keeping Ryan is that consistency of coaching staffs helps in the development of young players. “Well, it’s easy for a coach to sit back and say, ‘Oh, it makes all the difference in the world, of course,’ ” Ryan said at first, then added he does believe that stability can be beneficial to development. “I think, obviously, the more time you get with somebody, the continuity I think helps. I think without question that helps.”
That argument pertains to more than just Ryan.
If he is fired, the Jets very well could be look ing at three new coordinators for the second straight season, plus possible cha nges of t he posit iona l coaches.
Rookie QB Geno Smith gave offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and quarterbacks coach David Lee his full support Monday.
“I know as long as David Lee is my coach and Marty (Mornhinweg) is my coach, they won’t allow me to take any breaks or take any shortcuts, and that’s kind of been the way that I’ve been learning all season,” Smith said.