Thank You Rex

"The message to the rest of the league is, `Hey, the Jets are coming, and we’re going to give you everything we got. And I think that’s going to be more than you can handle."
-Introductory Press Conference: January 2009

Barring a Miracle on 34th Street, Sunday will be the last time we see Rex Ryan donning the green and white as head coach of the New York Jets (reports already have him clearing out his office in Florham Park). Like most of Rex's tenure here, this article isn't hear to be sad, lamenting on what could have been. Instead, I am here to bring a smile to your face, reminiscing over these past 5 years, with some of my favorite Rex Ryan quotes. On Black Monday the entire franchise is going to start their complete overhaul, thus ending the Ryan Era. I can't say this enough, but thank you Coach Ryan. You will sincerely missed. I wish you the best of luck in whatever the next step of your career will be, unless you join the Patriots or Giants ;)

“I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick’s rings. I came here to win, let’s put it that way. I’m certainly not intimidated by New England or anybody else.”
-Introductory Press Conference: January 2009

At Rex Ryan's introductory press conference he came in guns blazing. After a period where Jets fans came to expect "paint-by-numbers" talk by Eric Mangini, Coach Ryan let you know exactly what he was bringing to the table. From the Super Bowl predictions, to calling out the Patriots and Giants, Rex was unlike anyone we have ever see. The 2009 season was a roller-coaster ride, and at the end a gift from "Santa Clause" got us into the playoffs, but Rex's attitude got us to the AFC Championship Game.

“Let’s make sure we play like the fucking New York Jets and not some fucking slap-dick team. That’s what I want to see tomorrow. Do we understand what the fuck I want to see tomorrow? Now let’s go eat a goddamn snack.”
-Hard Knocks, August 2010

The 2010 edition of HBO's hit series Hard Knocks made Rex Ryan a bona-fide star. He had so many one-liners that Jet Nation still repeats to this day. That training camp made Ryan a media darling, and put a lot of eyeballs and targets on the Jets. However, Rex proved he wasn't a one trick pony, by knocking both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning out of the playoffs in consecutive weeks. Once again, Gang Green was on the precipice of a Super Bowl, but that season also ended with an AFC Championship Game loss. 2010 was also the year that a video was uncovered of Rex showing his love for feet.

"Hey, guys, we don’t have Revis in this building right now. … Does it matter that Revis is not here? Goddamn, he’s pretty fucking good. He’s pretty good, OK? But you know what guys? It isn’t about one guy, its about leading the league in fucking wins.”
-Hard Knocks, August 2010

 The 2011 New York Jets were the first team that regressed in the Rex Ryan era. Perhaps the biggest turning point in Rex's tenure came when he lost to the Giants on Christmas Eve of 2011. The win catapulted the Giants to the Super Bowl, while Gang Green was stuck watching at home. Rex's promise of no longer playing in Big Blue's shadow was just a pipe dream for Jet Nation.

“There’s no way I’m going to be second fiddle. If we were playing the New York Yankees, I don’t want to be second fiddle to them. This is the same type of deal. I want to be the best team in football, not just the best team in this city. But we’ll start by being the best team in this city.”
-Talking about the Giants, December 2011

A slimmed down Coach Ryan made his debut in 2012. Unfortunately the 2012 season was over before it really began. The addition of Tim Tebow was an utter disaster, and problems with new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano led to a tension throughout the season. The season ended in a comical manner with a photo of Rex Ryan's tattoo depicting his wife in a Mark Sanchez jersey.

“I never realized how similar that I am to Tom Brady. I mean, the obvious physical appearance would be the first thing. The fact that he's married to a supermodel? Hello?”
-Before a game against the Patriots
 
The 2013 Jets had a new General Manager, John Idzik, new offensive coordinator, Marty Mornhinweg, and new starting quarterback, Geno Smith. Rex knew that his back was against the wall, but took  a team that everyone expected to be one of the worst in the league to an 8-8 record. After their last home game, Woody Johnson told a jubilant locker room that Rex will be coming back in 2014.

(from Boomer & Carton producer, Al Dukes)

"I think Rex is a great coach. I think he is a great person. There is no question about that. He’s very handsome"
 -Dressed as his brother Rob before a game against the Browns

The 2014 season has been a disaster. However, the majority of media and fans are blaming the problems on John Idzik and Woody Johnson for leaving over $20 million in salary cap with obvious holes on the roster. The Jets still hung in against some of the best teams in the league, like the Patriots, Broncos, and Packers. The team still plays hard for Rex Ryan and that is evidence enough that he is a great coach in this league.

When Rex Ryan got here, he tried his damnedest to change the perception of the Same Old Jets. His defense brought a toughness not seen in this city since the Parcells' Giants, and the "ground and pound" offense followed in the defense's mentality. However, Rex was always handcuffed by having a below-average quarterback in a passing league, and that has led to his ultimate downfall. Once again, thank you Coach Ryan, it's been one hell of a ride. 

One last note, from Patriot fan Bill Simmons Friday football column:

"I hope the Jets are dumb enough to fire Rex — the guy who won them four road playoff games in two years even though Mark Freaking Sanchez was playing QB for him. We always hear that you’re only as good as your QB. Well, Rex’s starting QBs ranked 24^th, 17^th, 26^th, 32^nd, 28^th and 30^th in QBR from 2009 through 2014. During that time, the Jets never had a 1,000-yard receiver and only had three 1,000-yard running backs (Thomas Jones in 2009 and Shonn Greene in 2011 and 2012). In the past 12 years, the Jets have drafted one above-average skill position player … and it was a kick returner (Leon Washington in 2006). And this is Rex’s fault?"

Plea to Woody Johnson

Hello Mr Johnson,

My name is Frank, and I've been a Jets fan since 1997, when I was 10 years old. I've seen the good, the 1998, 2009, and 2010 AFC Championship Game seasons, the bad, Favre's collapse in 2008, and the ugly, the Buttfumble (need I say more). It is with this that I beg of you to let John Idzik go before the calendar hits 2015. Hell, he should go on Black Monday; December 29th. I'm not happy that you are letting go of a great football mind in Rex Ryan, but I do understand that some sacrifices need to be made for the future of this once proud franchise.

  

The last 3 months have been a trying time for the Green and White faithful. We have once again become the laughing stock of the league because of moves that the man that you left in control of our football operations is incapable of doing his job. Not only is this team unwatchable, Jets fans are forced to see Mark Sanchez playing well in Philadelphia, Antonio Cromartie playing well for the Cardinals, and on Sunday we get visited by Revis Clause, who has been playing like the best corner in the league again for our biggest rivals, the Patriots.

Enough about the guys we've lost, you want to judge Mr. Idzik on the men he brought into this organization. Good quality men like Mike Goodson (arrested on drug and weapon posession), Dimitri Paterson (he FUCKING DISAPPEARED before a preseason game), and Kellen Winslow (who played with balls more in a Target parking lot then a football field). He brought in free agents who contributed greatly to the organization, like Braylon Edwards and David Garrard, who both retired in camp. 

Even if you discredit those moves, his gaffes on the biggest stage, the NFL Draft are enough to drive a sane man into an asylum. In 2013, we drafted Dee Milliner who has played a whopping 16 games in 2 seasons, including being benched for a majority of last season, Geno Smith, who's 69.8 QBR is last in the NFL this season, Brian Winters and Oday Aboushi, the weak links on our offensive line.

You're probably saying to yourself the 2014 couldn't have gone worse than the 2013 Draft, but somehow it did. Out of our 12 draft picks, only four of them remain on the roster. First round pick Calvin Pryor has been benched, even in our abysmal secondary. Jace Amoro (Butterfingers) has dropped more passes than he caught this season. Third round pick Dee Milliner Jr, oops sorry, Dexter McDougle can't stay healthy in the pros after battling injuries in his college career. Receivers Shaq Evans and Jalen Saunders are both off the team. To make matters worse, we could've drafted Martavius Bryant who only has 484 yards and 7 touchdowns this season. Do I need to keep going?

We aren't going anywhere. As much as you try to price real fans out of Jetlife Stadium, who refuse to pay your criminal PSLs, we are going to support the team (gotta support the team) because we Bleed Jets Green. If you want to stop the planes carrying banners over our practice fields in Florham Park, stop the fans waving the yellow penalty flags, and put an end to this 2 year hell there is only one decision to make. Tell John Idzikand don't let the door hit him in the ass on the way out.

Sincerely,

Jets Nation

It's Clobbering Time!!

The past 12 months of Phil “CM Punk” Brooks life has been a roller coaster to say the least. After the Royal Rumble in January, Punk left what he thought was a dream job at WWE. Finally soured by numerous injuries, a perceived lack of respect by his bosses, and a general unhappiness. After getting married in June, he was largely out of the public eye, returning to Twitter to feud with the Los Angeles Kings mascot. Then on Thanksgiving, Punk became the most talked about man in pro wrestling again, by recording a podcast with friend Colt Cabana, explaining why he left WWE. Then, on Saturday night, he dropped a “pipebomb” after the opening fight on the UFC 181 pay-per view.

It still feels surreal, but there was CM Punk alongside Joe Rogan to announce that he has signed a multi-fight contract with the UFC, expecting to fight in 2015. A lot of the details are still unknown. Punk may fight in the middleweight (185 lb) or welterweight (170 lb) division, he still has to decide which fight camp to join (he is a Gracie brown belt in Jiu Jitsu), and he has no timetable for when the fight will be.

Immediately after the news broke, MMA fans were up in arms, claiming the UFC has jumped the shark. Pro wrestling fans weren’t kind to Punk either, hoping he gets his ass kicked and comes crawling back to join the infamous Mr McMahon Kiss My Ass Club. Like in all things, the truth really lies somewhere in the middle.

While Dana White has criticized his competitors Strikeforce and Bellator for trying to pull a big rating by promoting “freak show” fights like Herschel Walker, Kimbo Slice, and Tito Ortiz (in 2014); the Baldfather isn’t immune to doing it before either. Does anyone remember when James Toney fought Randy Couture? And there’s that Brock Lesnar guy too. Fact of the matter is one fight isn’t going to ruin the credibility of the UFC. If Punk comes in and falls flat on his face, I would think it would benefit MMA, by proving that not just anyone can step into the Octagon. 

MMA is in a weird phase right now. It is coming down from it’s fad period, where everyone would order every UFC pay-per view, and has become a legitimate sport.  UFC has landed on Fox Sports One from Spike TV, where you see the next fight being advertised right alongside with that weekends football games. Dana White is a promoter first and foremost. The very essence of the word means that he is trying everything he can to put asses in the seat, whether in the arena or on the couch ordering the show.  CM Punk is an attraction that doesn’t come around very often. He appeals to the male 18-35 year old demo the UFC markets to. If you poll people off the street, they will be able to pick Punk out of a lineup before Jose Aldo, the featherweight champion who hasn’t loss since 2005. 

At 36 years old, CM Punk decided that he “lost his smile” in pro wrestling, so he left. Punk has been a devout MMA fan for years, showing up cageside for multiple UFC events. Through interviews with Ariel Helwani you can tell Punk has a real passion for MMA. He has every right to try living his dream of having a fight. However, I don’t know if he should start at the top of the food chain in the UFC. 

Like indy wrestlers, there are tons of weekend MMA fighters all around the world. They leave their blood, sweat, and tears on the mat for little to no money, because they love the sport. If Phil Brooks wasn’t CM Punk he wouldn’t be able to have his debut fight in the UFC. He has become Dwayne Johnson, taking Punk’s spot at the main event at Wrestlemania. Right or wrong though, that is the fight business, whether you’re doing it in the Squared Circle or the Octagon it’s all the same when it comes to money. 

UFC 181 was the promotion’s biggest event of the year. Anthony Pettis retained the lightweight title, becoming the first person to finish Gilbert Melendez. Robbie Lawler completed his comeback (he first fought at UFC 37 in 2002) by defeating Johny Hendricks in a rematch of their Fight of the Year candidate. However, all everyone wanted to talk about was CM Punk. Nobody knows what the future holds, but Dana White and CM Punk have gotten people talking.