Jets News

[SoFlaJets]

THE RYAN KING

REX EMERGES AS JETS' FRONT-RUNNER

When Woody Johnson sat down with Rex Ryan on Sunday, the Jets owner saw the results of a lifetime of football - and he was impressed.

RAVENS REALLY LIKE RYAN

League sources said the Ravens defensive coordinator wowed Johnson in a five-hour interview in Baltimore, and Ryan is now the Jets' top candidate to replace Eric Mangini.

Ryan gave a thorough presentation outlining his approach and

philosophy, and charmed the Jets owner with his "what you see is

what you get" personality.

No decision has been made, but with each passing day it becomes clearer the Jets prefer Ryan to Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The team must wait until the Ravens' season is

over to offer Ryan the job. If the Jets wanted Spagnuolo, they could have offered him the job as soon as the Giants lost to the Eagles on Sunday.

Ryan to the Jets is not a slam dunk yet, though. They are not the only team interested in him.

He also is a finalist for the Rams job. The Jets are still considering Spagnuolo, with Cardinals assistant Russ Grimm

and Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer being fallback candidates.

Ryan got an early introduction to the coaching life. His father, Buddy, missed his birth in December 1962 because he was on a recruiting trip. Six years later, Rex watched his dad help the Jets win the Super Bowl as the team's defensive line coach.

Ryan, his twin brother, Rob, and older brother, Jim, served as ballboys with the Vikings and Bears, where Buddy was the defensive coordinator. Rob is expected to be named Browns defensive coordinator any day by Mangini.

When Rex and Rob were finishing up at Southwest Oklahoma State in 1987, their father tried to convince them to get into the food industry. When they insisted on coaching, he got a hotel room in Oklahoma and taught both of them the nuances of his "46 defense."

Roy Kidd gave Ryan his first coaching job, hiring him as a graduate assistant at Eastern Kentucky. Ryan worked with the defensive ends for two years, and Kidd recognized the talent Ryan had.

"He was really good," Kidd said. "He was sharp. He had a good rapport with the players. It was obvious to me that he was going to be successful. I probably should have listened to him more than the guy I had running the defense at that time."

Ryan left for New Mexico Highlands University, then returned to

Kentucky as the defensive coordinator for Morehead State for four seasons. His father hired him in 1994 when he became the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

After two years in the NFL, he returned to the college game, becoming the University of Cincinnati's defensive coordinator.

Sam Garnes, the former Giant and Jet, was in his senior season when Ryan arrived there.

"That would be a great hire for the Jets," Garnes said. "He has a lot of playmakers in Baltimore, but I think the Jets do, too. Kerry Rhodes will fit right into what he's doing. He's a good motivational guy. He's one of those guys you know he's going to bat for you as your coach."

Ryan went from Cincinnati to Oklahoma briefly then joined the Ravens staff, where he has worked his way up from defensive

line coach to assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.

"He did his ABCs," Buddy Ryan said. "Most guys now have things handed to them. They start out at the top and work their way down. He and his brother both started as assistants and kept going. They did their ABCs."

[SoFlaJets]

Jets' plan: Tab Rex Ryan, keep Brian Schottenheimer

By RICH CIMINI

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Thursday, January 15th 2009, 2:25 AM

Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer

The Jets have a game plan. Really, they do. If everything falls right, they will wind up with two of the top candidates on their coaching list.

Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, the odds-on favorite, is expected to retain Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer if he's offered the head-coaching job, league sources said Wednesday.

Ryan, Schottenheimer, Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Cards assistant head coach Russ Grimm remain the leading candidates among the eight who interviewed for the position. Ryan's willingness to keep Schottenheimer, whom the organization regards as an up-and-coming coach, isn't the reason why the Jets are prepared to hire him, but it does make Ryan more attractive.

Initially, there was talk in league circles that Ryan would target Ravens quarterbacks coach Hugh Jackson as his offensive coordinator, but friends say Ryan learned a lesson two years ago while interviewing for the Chargers' head-coaching vacancy. Ryan didn't want to hire Ted Cottrell as his defensive coordinator - that was the preference of GM A.J. Smith - and it may have been a reason why he lost out to Norv Turner, who agreed to Cottrell. Turner wound up firing Cottrell this season.

Ryan has no background with Schottenheimer, but he may consider it more palatable to hire a "stranger" in this case because he and Schottenheimer coach on opposite sides of the ball and, in theory, wouldn't butt heads. Spagnuolo wants the power to hire his own coaches and he would like to have authority over the 53-man roster, according to sources - likely one of the reasons he has slipped behind Ryan.

If Ryan lands the job - and there's every reason to believe it will happen next week if the Ravens lose in Sunday's AFC Championship Game - he will target Ravens outside linebackers coach Mike Pettine as his defensive coordinator, according to a league source.

Meanwhile, the Jets have yet to re-interview Spagnuolo, sources said - a clear indication that he's not their No. 1 choice.

Spagnuolo is scheduled to interview Thursday with St. Louis, where he's considered one of five finalists. He has a relationship with newly hired Rams GM Billy Devaney, fueling speculation that he could land the job. Ryan is a contender in St. Louis, but he appears to lean toward the Jets.

The longer the Jets wait, the more it looks like Ryan's job. With Ryan and Grimm both coaching in Sunday's conference championships, Jets brass wants to wait for the outcomes before making its move.

[SoFlaJets]

Predicting where the coaching dominos will fall

By Jeff Dickinson | Thursday, January 15, 2009 | ( 0 )

There is an old adage -- "The more things change, the more they stay the same" -- which applies perfectly to the current NFL coaching searches taking place in Oakland, St. Louis, Detroit and New York (and Kansas City in due time).

Although the names change from year to year throughout the league, the system seemingly doesn't: A handful of coaches go from city to city to make their pitch to a particular team as to why they are the Man for that franchise. The Denver Broncos struck first, hiring ex-Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

The question is: Where will all the coaching candidates settle? Here is a look at where the coaching dominoes should fall in the coming weeks:

New York Jets

[SoFlaJets]

Browns coach selects assistants

Ex-Jaguars executive will interview today for general manager

By Marla Ridenour

Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009

While Browns coach Eric Mangini announced the hiring of his coordinators Wednesday, a new name emerged in the team's search for a general manager.

Owner Randy Lerner will interview former Jacksonville Jaguars Vice President of Player Personnel James Harris today in New York, WKYC Channel 3 reported.

Harris, 61, resigned Dec. 23 after serving nearly six years as GM of the Jaguars.

The Browns' other known general manager candidate, George Kokinis, succeeded Harris as the Baltimore Ravens director of pro personnel in 2003. Lerner interviewed Kokinis, a close friend of Mangini, on Sunday and a source said they plan to talk again next week.

In Jacksonville, Harris took the blame for the acquisition of two underperforming free agents — wide receiver Jerry Porter of the Oakland Raiders and cornerback Drayton Florence of the San Diego Chargers — who cost a reported $23 million. Harris also brought in receiver Troy Williamson from the Minnesota Vikings and moved up in the draft to select Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey, who managed just four sacks as a rookie.

A playoff team in 2007, the Jaguars went 5-11 and lost eight of their last 10 games.

Harris has won numerous awards, including twice being named one of the 50 most influential minorities by Sports Illus

trated. After playing for legendary coach Eddie Robinson at Grambling, Harris was drafted in the eighth round by the Buffalo Bills and became the first African-American in NFL history to open the season as a starting quarterback.

He spent 12 years in the NFL with the Bills (1969-71), Los Angeles Rams (1973-76) and Chargers (1977-81) before moving into personnel. Harris scouted for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for five years, then was hired as assistant general manager of the New York Jets (1993-96).

The building of Mangini's staff began with the hiring of Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator, Rob Ryan as defensive coordinator and Brad Seely as assistant head coach/special teams coordinator.

Daboll was the Jets' quarterbacks coach, Ryan served as the Raiders' defensive coordinator and Seely spent the past 10 years as special teams coach of the New England Patriots.

''All three are very experienced, talented and dedicated coaches who share the same team-first vision and are passionate towards our goal of bringing an NFL championship to Cleveland,'' Mangini said in a statement.

The four spent four years together with the Patriots from 2000-03. Mangini coached defensive backs, Ryan linebackers and Daboll was a defensive assistant.

Daboll, 33, a native of Welland, Ontario, has spent nine years in the NFL with the Jets and Patriots (2000-06), five coaching the Patriots' wide receivers. He also worked as a graduate assistant under Nick Saban at Michigan State.

Ryan, 46, is the son of NFL defensive coaching legend Buddy Ryan and twin brother of Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. Rob Ryan started in the NFL in 1994-95 with the Arizona Cardinals under his father, then went to Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College (1996) and Oklahoma State (1997-99), where he was defensive coordinator. He joined the Patriots in 2000, the Raiders in 2004.

Seely, 52, brings 20 years of NFL experience, also working with the Indianapolis Colts (1989-93), Jets (1994) and Carolina Panthers (1995-98).

[SoFlaJets]

Ryan expected to keep Schottenheimer

By Dan Leberfeld

Posted Jan 15, 2009

If the Jets hire Rex Ryan to be their head coach, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is expected to be retained. The announcement was made by Rich Cimini in the Daily News.

"The Jets have a game plan. Really, they do," wrote Cimini getting in a dig at the organization. "If everything falls right, they will wind up with two of the top candidates on their coaching list. Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, the odds-on favorite, is expected to retain Jets offensive coordinator Brian

[SoFlaJets]

HOLDING PATTERN

The Jets, who have reportedly settled on Mr. Rex Ryan as the leading candidate for the coaching position once held by Eric Mangini, are in a holding pattern. I find it interesting that Woody Johnson has not yet met with Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo yet, but if the team was ready to hire him there isn

[SMC]

Thanks, SoFla!!!

[SoFlaJets]

Jets must choose between Schottenheimer, Ryan

Posted: Adam Schefter

A prevailing thought circulating around New York and the NFL is that the Jets can pull off a daily double and hire a dynamic duo.

They can land two of their top coaching candidates by hiring Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan as their coach and keeping Brian Schottenheimer as their offensive coordinator. But hold on. Anyone making that suggestion should be flagged for a false start.

Hiring Ryan does not insure keeping Schottenheimer; in fact, it is just the opposite, multiple league sources say.

If the Jets hire Ryan, the strong belief is that Schottenheimer will look to leave the Jets. Schottenheimer stayed with the Jets two seasons ago when he opted to turn down the Dolphins coaching job. Now, two seasons later, it is unlikely he would do the same if New York picked another candidate over him.

It is a situation that already has drawn attention around the league. Other teams are eying Schottenheimer, waiting to see if the Jets go in a different direction and how they will handle it if they do. It would not be an easy situation to navigate.

But what is known for now is that Ryan and Schottenheimer are not on the same ticket like Obama and Biden. Contrary to public perception, it looks like it could be one or the other.

[SoFlaJets]

A Look Back: AFC Championship

The 1998 AFC Championship game was John Elway's last in Denver.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- It was John Elway's last game at Mile High Stadium, though no one knew it.

It was highly speculated that No. 7 would retire after the 1998 season, but no one really knew for sure. And with the Lamar Hunt Trophy on the line and a second shot at a Super Bowl title just a game away, Elway himself may not have known yet. He was focused on the task at hand.

That was 10 years ago, and the Broncos had just dispatched the Miami Dolphins in a 38-3 rout in Denver and were preparing for the arrival of the New York Jets. It was time for the AFC Championship.

But the game didn't start out well for the Orange and Blue.

Both teams played sloppy football through the first 30 minutes, squandering opportunities left and right. On the opening drive, the Jets took the ball deep into Denver territory, but kicker John Hall missed his 42-yard field goal. On the Broncos' first possession, the Jets forced a punt. So New York began driving the ball again, but they couldn't hold on for long as running back Curtis Martin fumbled and the Broncos recovered.

And if all that back and forth wasn't enough, the Broncos would drive to the New York one-yard line only to have Elway's fourth-down pass attempt batted down.

At the end of the first quarter, the scoreboard showed zeros for both teams.

The second quarter began much like the first -- full of errors. On fourth down, Denver punter Tom Rouen fumbled a snap and was downed by the Jets at the Denver 43-yard line, setting up New York with excellent field position. Then another Jets fumble, this one by fullback Keith Byars, gave the ball back to the Broncos, but Denver couldn't capitalize. The Jets got the ball back and finally drew first blood, getting on the scoreboard with a 32-yard field goal.

At halftime, the scoreboard showed a 3-0 New York lead.

To start the second half, it appeared as though the Jets would take control of the game. New York's defense forced the Broncos to punt deep in their own territory, but Jets tight end Blake Spence blocked the punt. A play later, Martin upped the New York lead to 10-0 on a one-yard touchdown run.

It could have been over. Denver could have folded, but the Broncos came back fighting. Elway orchestrated a long drive, keyed by a 47-yard pass to Ed McCaffrey, and he capped it off with an 11-yard touchdown strike to Howard Griffith. 10-7, Jets lead.

But that score wouldn't stand up for long.

On the ensuing kickoff, the ball hit a Jets player and bounced wildly, a live ball. It was recovered by Denver's Keith Burns, giving the Broncos the ball in New York territory. Jason Elam soon tied the game at 10 with a 44-yarder. On the Broncos' next drive, Elam knocked another one through the uprights, giving Denver their first lead of the game -- a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

As the third quarter came to a close, the Broncos got excellent field position on a 36-yard punt return by Darrien Gordon. Just a few plays later, Terrell Davis burst through the line and broke into the open field for a 31-yard touchdown scamper. And the Broncos led 20-10 in the fourth quarter.

Elam would tack on one more field goal before it was all said and done, making the final score 23-10, and the Broncos won the AFC Championship for the second consecutive year.

After falling behind 10-0, the Broncos rallied with 23 unanswered points, led by Davis' 32 carries for 167 yards and a touchdown. As for Elway, it may not have been the flashiest way to close out his career in Denver, completing just 13-of-34 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown, but earning a second consecutive trip to the Super Bowl made up for that.

Surely the fans who were in attendance would agree.

In the week leading up to Super Bowl XLIII, DenverBroncos.com will take a look back at the Broncos' victory in Super Bowl XXXIII, including some of the fondest memories of those who were there to help win it.

[SoFlaJets]

CLEVELAND - Eric Mangini has hired Jets quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll as Browns offensive coordinator.

Mangini, who took over in Cleveland only a week after being fired by the Jets, alsno named Rob Ryan as defensive coordinator and Brad Seely as special teams coach.

All four previously worked together with the Patriots from 2000 to 2003.

Daboll worked for the JetsNew York Jets the past two seasons. Ryan came over after five seasons as Oakland's defensive coordinator, and Seely was the Patriots' special teams coach for the past 10 seasons.

"I am extremely pleased to bring three quality people in Brian, Rob and Brad to our coaching staff and to the Cleveland Browns organization," Mangini said in a statement. "I know firsthand that all three are very experienced, talented and dedicated coaches who share the same team-first vision and are passionate towards our goal of bringing an NFL championship to Cleveland."

Daboll spent this past season working closely with likely Hall of Famer Brett Favre. Daboll helped Favre get acclimated to the Jets' offense, which was clicking on full cylinders when the Jets got off to an 8-3 start.

In their press release, the Browns pointed out that Favre finished in the top 10 in several statistical categories but there was no mention that he threw two touchdown passes and nine interceptions as the Jets went 1-4 down the stretch and missed the playoffs. Favre refused to blame a torn biceps for his slide.

Daboll will replace Rob Chudzkinski, whose offense sputtered in 2008 after scoring 402 points as one of the NFL's most explosive units one season earlier. The Browns were done in by injuries and dropped passes by wide receiver Braylon Edwards. Cleveland failed to score an offensive touchdown in its last six games.

"I could not be more excited to have the opportunity to work for the Cleveland Browns, one of the most storied franchises in the history of the NFL," said Daboll, a native of Welland, Ontario. "Growing up a short drive away, I know how devoted and dedicated Browns fans are. I plan to use the experience I have garnered in my coaching career, on both offense and defense, to craft a tough, smart, hardworking unit."

[Green DNA]

Jets must choose between Schottenheimer, Ryan

Posted: Adam Schefter

A prevailing thought circulating around New York and the NFL is that the Jets can pull off a daily double and hire a dynamic duo.

They can land two of their top coaching candidates by hiring Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan as their coach and keeping Brian Schottenheimer as their offensive coordinator. But hold on. Anyone making that suggestion should be flagged for a false start.

Hiring Ryan does not insure keeping Schottenheimer; in fact, it is just the opposite, multiple league sources say.

If the Jets hire Ryan, the strong belief is that Schottenheimer will look to leave the Jets. Schottenheimer stayed with the Jets two seasons ago when he opted to turn down the Dolphins coaching job. Now, two seasons later, it is unlikely he would do the same if New York picked another candidate over him.

It is a situation that already has drawn attention around the league. Other teams are eying Schottenheimer, waiting to see if the Jets go in a different direction and how they will handle it if they do. It would not be an easy situation to navigate.

But what is known for now is that Ryan and Schottenheimer are not on the same ticket like Obama and Biden. Contrary to public perception, it looks like it could be one or the other.

I'll take Ryan please!