Honestly, what's not to like about Rex Ryan, from his bombastic antics during press conferences, to his middle finger gestures, to his overblown foot fetish?
If there's anyone adored heavily these days in New York, a place where zealots are accustomed to theatrical pieces and comedy, it's the coolest dude ever coaching the Jets with his fiery and avid soul, comfortable deriding his own belly or even conveying regrettable jokes that pisses off reporters on deadline.
He doesn't care because he's a guy with sense of humor, a guy with heart and determination. Because he doesn't care, especially when the Jets perform poorly and falls victim in an irritating loss, he goes on a frivolous tirade and sometimes act obnoxious. But if he doesn't care, we as the media and fans don't care either. Instead, we love it.
Without much regard, whether he speaks highly of his foot fetish or horrendous defeats, he sells entertainment and alarms us publicly with his inane explanations. The swarm of reporters inside the conference room, cramped together in the seats to pontificate and seek answers for helpful sources in order to report a detailed story, take pleasure in his comical ways and afterwards he's mocked by the local tabloids in New York.
This time, he's not acting silly but instead is taking the upcoming matchup serious and knows much is on the line in a critical first-round battle. All of which, he has reduced showing off his giddy behavior and has had time to adjust to the Indianapolis Colts for a rematch of last season's AFC Championship Game in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday.
As of recently, people wondered if he'd eventually lessen the distractions of being the team's clown, and finally recognize that he has to play the role of the defensive-minded guru as well as the stimulated head coach. It would be kind to think of him as another senseless buffoon, but in all honesty, he's not the biggest clown in the league.
To call him a clown, would be an insult even if he badmouths and teases his opponents. We all should understand, just as rabid fans chant angrily at players they despise greatly, that his heartless trash-talk is a way to motivate, encourage and raise the spirit, entering the toughest game to begin the playoffs. It's inspiring, indeed, to hear Ryan portray his team as the villains, knowingly grasping that the Jets are one of the most disliked franchises in the league.
And because of their arrogance and belittlement, the Jets really are scorned at this point by non-believers and critics, many of whom are tired of hearing Ryan talk foolishly. The nonsense by now is not as bad as when he first was hired and instantly turned around the Jets, but today, he ultimately guarantees to improve as a head coach and produce more wins.
It requires an incredible makeover, but the fun-loving coach believes he saved the Jets from itself, blabbering as if his players have backed up his dirty mouth, a nasty tongue which is troubling if the Jets are beaten by the Colts. Few believe that he has created a ruckus every season, like the moment he was discovered on camera gesturing the middle finger to an MMA fan, like the moment he promoted the Jets overblown reality show HBO's "Hard Knocks," and like the moment he tried to downplay the Ines Sainz sexual harassment incident.
It seems peculiar, as owner Woody Johnson admires his coach and said before that he is his guy for the job, that Ryan is ripping Patriots quarterback Tom Brady weekly in his hilarious press conferences. The storyline for the Jets is no one other than Ryan, while for some his jokes are getting old. If there's one thing that will undermine Ryan, refusing to adjust to a new style and lose the hilarity a bit, it's his inability to defend his own mouth, something that has gotten him in trouble.
It's also the lack of finesse and impetus, unable to take on the role as head coach obviously for jawing, willing to please the circus rather than the football franchise he works for. Mostly the fans see one of the craziest clowns of all-time, not a head coach. But truthfully, he is a coach and, if he wins, all the critics will be honoring Ryan for a splendid victory over the popular Colts, a team with the four-time MVP Peyton Manning, which Indianapolis has the nod in a heavy showdown.
But every time, which all of the sudden it appears as if the Jets are forced to fight in other bloody war, it seems Ryan absorbs more attention than the players. This is really the time that Johnson and the Jets should demand strong character, judgment and prudence. It's well established by now, no matter what his previous history advertises, that he and the Jets are ready to face the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in front of a hostile crowd.
God bless Ryan.
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