30 replies to this topic

[Ken Shroy]

Rex Ryan stepped up to the podium, wearing his New York Jets gear, as always – more on that in a bit – and seemingly ready to give his usual end-of-the-week rundown of the injuries.

"It's Friday," Ryan said at the top of his press conference, "but this is going to be a little different."

Different because the latest bit of anonymously sourced news had been aimed right at Ryan in the form of a New York Daily News story that indicated Ryan is ready to walk away from the Jets if owner Woody Johnson doesn't take the necessary steps to fix the issues with the team's offense and coaching staff.

Ryan wasn't happy about the report. In fact, he claimed he was "disappointed and mad as a hornet."

While he didn't raise his voice, he tried his best to put a stinger in the story and Manish Mehta, the Daily News reporter who wrote the article.

"It's untrue. In the article it talked about in a certain way I did not want to be the head coach of the New York Jets, and that's totally untrue," Ryan said. "The fact is, and it's simple, this is the only team I want to coach, period. Anybody that knows me knows that I'm telling you the truth.

"Has it been perfect? No. Would I like this player or that player? Of course, anybody would. But I'm telling you, this is my team, these are my players and I don't want to coach somebody else's players. This is the team I want to coach, period."

Ryan addressed his players during a meeting on Friday morning to tell them the report was inaccurate. He said the speech he gave was "probably a little more passionate, emotional, whatever you want to call it because I'd just read the story." Ryan said he also called Johnson after he read the story to say he was not pulling a power play.

"That's total garbage. That's garbage. That's not the case at all," Ryan said of the notion he was threatening to leave if changes weren't made. "The premise I'd rather go somewhere else to coach somebody else's football team? No way. That's not it. This is my team. I'd rather coach my players and coach my team. I don't care about who else it is. New England Patriots or anybody else, I don't care. I want this team. This is my team."

Ryan later added of Johnson, "I called Mr. Johnson as soon as I read the article and let him know 100 percent that's not my intention. No way in heck. I'm not putting an ultimatum to this man that hired me. No chance. This is his football team. I take it as my team, the guys that I coach and the football part of it, that's how I approach it. But it's Mr. Johnson's team. I feel honored he hired me to do a job."

Ryan said he spoke to Mehta on Thursday night and gave him his side of the story, which he indicated was the same one he gave to reporters Friday but "for whatever reason he elected not to put my response in."

There have been numerous anonymously-sourced stories, most from the Daily News, over the past year-plus, criticizing certain members of the organization (Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow) or insinuating they want out (defensive coordinator Mike Pettine). Now, Ryan is the target, though he said he hadn't yet addressed his staff about the leaks.

"Whoever's agenda it is, I don't know," Ryan said, adding: "The fact (the leaks) still exist, does it bother me? Of course, it bothers me."

Everybody's agenda in an organization should be to win. It appears that's been clouded of late in the Jets' facility.

Ryan believes that can change for the better. Under his guidance, of course.

"Let's face it, I wear Jets stuff every single day. Every day. I'm proud to be a Jet," he said. "Sometimes I'm proud to be a Jet more than others, but I'm proud to be a Jet. This season has been a rough one, no question, but again this is my team. That's how I approach it. And I believe we will get back – and this is really a topic for next week – but I believe we can accomplish what I set out to do when I took the job, and that's the truth."

http://www.usatoday....k-jets/1796507/

[pointman]

Mehta is ridiculous and not credible.

[PatriotReign37]

[IPack]

Mehta is ridiculous and not credible.

When the report is about Tebow is it garbage? Looks like Rex is getting a taste of "Jets medicine."

[pointman]

When the report is about Tebow is it garbage? Looks like Rex is getting a taste of "Jets medicine."

If its by Mehta with an anonymous source, yes.

[peebag]

Geebus...this team is really got issues......

[IPack]

The anonymous leaks have happened too many times whether they are exaggerated or not. You have too remember that Mehta is risking his own career when he puts this stuff out there. He doesnt gain anything from false reporting unless his goal is to be a reporter for the Enquirer. My guess is that Rex did say these things in frustration, probably to a small group of people and off the cuff. But that doesnt mean its the only thought in Rex's head, people are more complex than that. How many times have you said to people "Im quitting this damn job" only to show up the next day? So, I think Rex did say these things just like I think Tebow told Rex that the run up the gut wildcat sucked.

[pointman]

He gains plenty. Notoriety > a nobody for some. He'd rather makes splashes in the cesspool with Cimini with B.S. than just be another good reporter. Some peoples stupidity can't be underestimated.

[Pac]

so apparently Mehta didn't even have the balls to attend the press conference. does wonders for his credibilty.

[SenorGato]

Bigger scumbags - sports owners or sports writers?

[IPack]

Some peoples stupidity can't be underestimated.

I know right, not sure why you would talk that way about yourself in public though.

[Ken Shroy]

so apparently Mehta didn't even have the balls to attend the press conference. does wonders for his credibilty.

Rex told Mehta last night, when told about the story, that it wasn't true. Mehta, however omitted Rex's denial from the story.

[JetsFanInDenver]

I hate Monday's. But this time around i cannot wait for Monday to come soon enough. We will know!

[Beaver]

I hate Monday's. But this time around i cannot wait for Monday to come soon enough. We will know!

exactly, I am waiting for it all to come out. Regardless, this is not looking good on the whole Jets organization. I like Rex, but with all of this going on it may be necessary to blow the whole thing up. Front office included.

[JiF]

Rex told Mehta last night, when told about the story, that it wasn't true. Mehta, however omitted Rex's denial from the story.

Wow. Is this really what happened?

Roger Goodell and the media are ruining the NFL.

[HessStation]

Bigger scumbags - sports owners or sports writers?

omg seriously? Writers hands down. News Media in general is Satan's left jab to society.

Edited by HessStation, 28 December 2012 - 05:57 PM.

[Ken Shroy]

Wow. Is this really what happened?

Roger Goodell and the media are ruining the NFL.

Glad to see you came around Sam.

[pointman]

I know right, not sure why you would talk that way about yourself in public though.

As long as you laughed....

[Lil Bit Special]

so apparently Mehta didn't even have the balls to attend the press conference. does wonders for his credibilty.

It was a smart and calculated move. This way Rex cant go and bully him in front of the other media. All he can do is respond to the story and try to save face.

[KSJets]

It was a smart and calculated move. This way Rex cant go and bully him in front of the other media. All he can do is respond to the story and try to save face.

I read on Twitter that Mehta hasn't attended a Friday press conference all season so the two might not be related. Still a POS of thing to do though. His writing has really taken a nosedive this year. And don't even try to question him or call him out on Twitter about it or you'll get a nasty DM from him in response like I do lol.