Bills coach Rex Ryan has been asked several times since the end of last season about whether he believes the team needs to make the playoffs this season in order for him to keep his job for a third season.
Ryan has said he does not believe that’s the case, but he sent a somewhat different message to his team. In a team-produced documentary called “Rex and Rob Reunited” that aired in Buffalo recently, cameras caught Ryan giving a speech to his team early in training camp.
The theme was the criticism that the team faced after last season, saying that the “best revenge is massive success” before putting himself in the crosshairs should that massive success fail to materialize.
“That’s where I’m at,” Ryan said, via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. “It ain’t about being No. 1 in defense, No. 1 in offense, whatever. No, it’s about us in this room, holding this damn trophy saying we won the whole m----f-----. That’s where I’m at. Don’t be afraid of it. I don’t give a s--- who knows it. Here we are. Here the f--- we are. That’s who the f--- I am. I’m going to tell you we’re the f---ing best because I believe it. Let me f---ing say it. And if it doesn’t work, I’ll be the first m-----f----- that goes. And everyone one of you, I f---ing know you’ve got my back. All I want is every f---ing thing you got. I’ll take every f---ing bullet known to man.”
And then everyone went for a goddamn snack.
It may not be as clear cut as Ryan getting fired if the team doesn’t make the playoffs, but Ryan’s job security may not be too f------ good if the team has too many more outings like their Week One loss to the Ravens.