Brandon, Sheldon not pals yet
“Zero,” one NFL source said. “I’d be shocked.”
l When he was fired by the Jets, he had no interest in working as a defensive coordinator. I can’t see him wanting to take a step back this time, either, even if working for one of his friends. It would be great fun if Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia gets a head coaching job and Bill Belichick hires Ryan to replace him. Would Ryan kiss Belichick’s rings to get that job?
l How about college coaching? I can’t imagine him wanting to get involved in recruiting. But how about a part-time assistant position for one year at Clemson? His son, Seth, is a junior wide receiver and holder on field goals and extra points.
l Rex loves the camera and the camera loves him. Well, finally a match for Ryan.
He became a TV star on “Hard Knocks,” on HBO in the summer of 2010.
“Dare I say we helped launch him,” said Ross Greenburg, the former president of HBO Sports. “He’s a perfect television personality. You have to be really smart, you have to be outspoken, not be afraid to call people out if it’s necessary. He has a great sense of humor Rex will have no trouble making that transition.”
Ryan would seem more suited to a studio show than as a game analyst. ESPN’s Seth Markman, the senior coordinating
producer of their NFL shows, said Tuesday, “Rex is an accomplished coach and one of the most engaging personalities in the NFL. We always keep an eye out for new faces who know the game and will appeal to fans. If Rex is considering TV work, we’d be interested in talking to him.”
Asked if he could bring Ryan in for immediate work starting Sunday, he said, “Again, would entertain if he was willing. A lot of guys want to just lay low for a while.”
One other television executive was concerned that Ryan’s failed two years in Buffalo will hurt his credibility. “If you asked me 2-3 years ago, Rex would have been a home run in TV,” he said. “Will he be respected by the viewers? I still think he has the ability to be successful in television with his personality and his openness.”
Can Ryan be the next John Madden?
Madden arrived with instant credibility as a Super Bowl winning coach. He won 75% of his games in 10 seasons and was later inducted into the Hall of Fame. Ryan is a below-.500 coach with no Super Bowls. is news conferences were always entertaining in the context of comparing him to Belichick and other personality-deprived coaches. Ryan, however, is not a standup comic and the expectations for him to consistently entertain may be unrealistic. What’s next for Rex? First, the chicken wings.
HIT’S highly unlikely that Sheldon Richardson and Brandon Marshall will be singing Auld Lang Syne together on Saturday night. Two of Todd Bowles’ best players haven’t exactly worked out their differences days after Richardson tossed a verbal grenade at his teammate following the Jets’ blowout loss to the Patriots.
Marshall confirmed he hasn’t spoken to Richardson since the game. Richardson cryptically said Marshall “should be embarrassed” and that he has no professional respect for the receiver. Marshall told the Daily News and one other outlet that he simply wants the defensive lineman to “see the big picture.”
So, does Marshall have any plans to talk to Richardson?
“We have one more week,” Marshall said on Tuesday. “I’m sure we’ll cross paths.”
Marshall chalked up their differences — remember, the two players jawed in the losing locker room in Kansas city in Week 3 — to being “Alpha males.” Richardson didn’t really want to discuss the matter anymore.
“I’m not answering any Brandon Marshall questions,” Richardson said, before adding that he has “no beef” with his teammate.
Bowles spoke to Richardson, Marshall and the entire team about taking verbal public shots at teammates.
“I rather for a guy to be frustrated and (ticked) off, which means they care, than lackadaisical and nonchalant, which means he doesn’t," Bowles said. “We just got to handle it better.”
Richardson’s comments are a clear example of locker room discord during this nightmarish season.
“Nothing’s together,” Marshall said. “That’s the difference. There’s a lot you guys don’t know. If we don’t have problems like that, then something’s wrong. I’m surprised there weren’t any fist fights with this type of year.”
STRESS NOT A FACTOR
Bowles said that doctors don’t believe his recent health issues were stress related. … Running back Khiry Robinson broke his leg for a third time in just over a year during the loss in Foxborough.