Popular Post SAM SAM HE'S OUR MAN Posted December 4, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 4, 2019 Thirteen quarterbacks were chosen before the Jets selected Pat Ryan in the 11th round of the 1978 NFL Draft out of Tennessee. None, however, would play in as many games or as long in the league as he did. “I didn’t play much in college and so I was just hoping to get drafted,” said Ryan, who was with the Jets for 12 seasons, 1978-89. “I wouldn’t have got drafted nowadays with only seven rounds, but there were 12 back then. So, I slid in at the last minute.” Played sparingly during the launch of his career as a backup to Richard Todd and Matt Robinson, what was Ryan’s mindset? “Early on, I really didn’t understand what it took because I didn’t play much,” he said. “But over the years, I figured out that you better be prepared to play whether you’re getting the reps or not in practice because sooner or later the time is going to come and you’re going to be in there. And if you’re not ready to play and you don’t do the job, they’ll just go find somebody else.” ‘The time’ came in 1984, when Ryan started 11 games, of which the Jets won six. He finished the season with a career-high 1,939 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. ‘The time’ came again two years later. New York began the 1986 season with 11 straight victories, but that was followed by five straight losses. And while the Jets made the playoffs as a wild-card team, coach Joe Walton evidently felt they’d have a better chance of winning with a change at quarterback. He benched starter Ken O’Brien and tabbed Ryan to open the post-season against the Kansas City Chiefs. “I was kind of in disbelief, to be honest with you. That’s kind of a strange time to change quarterbacks and I had no inkling that was going to happen. And when he came to me and told me, I said, ‘Well, OK, be careful what you wish for,’” Ryan laughed. Behind Ryan’s three touchdown passes, the Jets beat the Chiefs, 35-15. Their season ended the following week with a 23-20 double-overtime divisional round loss to the Cleveland Browns. Playing in 141 games over 12 seasons for the Jets, Ryan may not be destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but he clearly proved to be an important part of the team. What was the key to his longevity and makes him most proud of his career? “Not having to play every Sunday. That’s as honest as I can be,” said Ryan, who concluded his 13-year NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1991. “These guys that play day in and day out for 10 or 15 years, I don’t see how they physically do it, to be honest with you. Some of the shots you take… You stay beat up and injured. I just don’t see how some of these guys make it through from week to week. “I think the thing that I was proud of is that I didn’t play a lot, but when I did, for the most part, I did a pretty good job. I was prepared and I felt like I was a pretty fair leader.” Now 26 years removed from the game, Ryan is still a leader. And as the owner of the Pat Ryan Construction Company in Knoxville, Tennessee, he’s a successful businessman, as well. “I started it while I was playing. I just felt like I needed to have something to go to,” Ryan said. “I didn’t know how long I was going to play, but I didn’t want to be one of those guys that was out of the game and had no clue what I was going to do. So, I started building houses. I’d build a house every off-season and kind of figured out the business a little bit so I’d have someplace to go when it all finished. “I still build houses, do a little commercial (construction), do a lot of renovations, big additions, kitchens, whatever. It depends on how business is. Sometimes business is real good and you can pick and choose, and sometimes it just slows down where you just do what you’ve got to do. “I’ve always liked building. I don’t like the management aspect of it much. I’m smallish. Really, it’s me and my son, Jake, and then a whole bunch of subcontractors. So, we’re pretty much hands-on with everything. I enjoy that part of it.” Ryan and his wife, Debbie, also have a daughter, Caitlin, who is an academic counselor in the University of Tennessee’s athletic department. 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanatic Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 Best backup QB in Jets history. If he didn’t get injured in that heart-breaking playoff loss to the Browns, the Jets win that game. Amazing how much better the offensive line looked when Ryan played instead of Kenny O’Brien. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpain Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 Looking back, amazing how much depth and talent thie early to mid 80's teams had Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanatic Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 22 minutes ago, Jetpain said: Looking back, amazing how much depth and talent thie early to mid 80's teams had Those teams were loaded, amazing they didn’t win a championship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerfish Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 The nfl should add a couple more rounds back onto the draft imo. Each team signs 10 udfas a year anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whodeawhodat Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 36 minutes ago, Beerfish said: The nfl should add a couple more rounds back onto the draft imo. Each team signs 10 udfas a year anyways. I wonder why that is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
y2k8 Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 Another Jets super sub! https://www.newyorkjets.com/video/memory-lane-qb-pat-ryan-2437404 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mphtrilogy Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 good stuff, thanks for posting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
y2k8 Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 3 hours ago, JetsFanatic said: Best backup QB in Jets history. If he didn’t get injured in that heart-breaking playoff loss to the Browns, the Jets win that game. Amazing how much better the offensive line looked when Ryan played instead of Kenny O’Brien. If a Jets QB ever really started seeing ghosts, it was Ken O'Brien at the end of the 1986 season. His 3rd full year as a starter went from penthouse to outhouse after a nightmare game in Miami on Monday Night Football (sound familiar?) Kenny O had moments in the seasons thereafter, but he never again was the really good QB he was in 1985 and in the first 11 games of 1986. If Sam had the sort of run Kenny O had at the end of 1986, he'd be run out of town. Teams and fans no longer have any patience. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREENBEAN Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 Those teams were loaded, amazing they didn’t win a championship.Gase Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rangerous Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 ryan was a pretty tough player too. i remember one game when he got smacked in the face and came back in with his face bandaged. of course today he'd still be out for concussion protocol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alka Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 On 12/4/2019 at 10:48 AM, JetsFanatic said: Best backup QB in Jets history. If he didn’t get injured in that heart-breaking playoff loss to the Browns, the Jets win that game. Amazing how much better the offensive line looked when Ryan played instead of Kenny O’Brien. I loved Pat Ryan, but he was a backup, and not good enough to be a starting QB. I know that I was one yelling for Pat to get a chance to start for the Jets, and when he did, showed his athletic limitations. Yes, a quality backup, but unfortunately not good enough to be a long term solution at starting QB. I am surprised that he was 6-5 as a starter though. Just shows that the team was quality. Either that, or our opponents were bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TuscanyTile2 Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 Johnny Hector the other day and Pat Ryan today. 2 great Jets backups from the 1980’s! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TuscanyTile2 Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 2 minutes ago, Alka said: I loved Pat Ryan, but he was a backup, and not good enough to be a starting QB. I know that I was one yelling for Pat to get a chance to start for the Jets, and when he did, showed his athletic limitations. Yes, a quality backup, but unfortunately not good enough to be a long term solution at starting QB. I am surprised that he was 6-5 as a starter though. Just shows that the team was quality. Either that, or our opponents were bad. Pat Ryan was a very good backup. Not quite Don Strock but the next tier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNJet Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 Pat Ryan, a Vol/Jet. My faves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
section314 Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 On 12/4/2019 at 1:03 PM, JetsFanatic said: Those teams were loaded, amazing they didn’t win a championship. Walt doesn't get fired, we would have. Maybe a couple. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClashFan Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 Pat used to do some local high school football radio commentary on Friday nights. I met him a couple of times when I was working the scoreboard at Bearden High in Knoxville, but that was some 20 years ago or so... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREENBEAN Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 Ahhhh Pat Ryan. The Jeff Rutledge of the NY Jets. Those were the days when ya just had a backup qb and he was your guy for years. I like the old NFL much better. Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonny Werblin Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 Ray Lucas would’ve taken the jets on a deep playoff run if Parcells had not waited so long to move on from Rick Mirer after Vinnie was lost in the opener in 99 (i think). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jago Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 Walt doesn't get fired, we would have. Maybe a couple.eh i think walt took long to make that team competitive. played below its talent level for several years even halfway into 1981. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Willie Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 Ryan was the real heir apparent to Joe, notwithstanding his back up status. A very good QB who should have had much more success than this team would allow. Glad to read that he's doing well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljr Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 Good guy ... good backup qbSent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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