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Mike Tannenbaum: “Hard Knocks” showed Rex Ryan as he is

Rex Ryan

New York Jets football coach Rex Ryan is interviewed about his new book “Play Like You Mean It,” in New York, Monday, May 2, 2011. Ryan always says whatever’s on his mind and now he’s put it all on paper with a new book about his life. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

AP

Rex Ryan is a profane blowhard who also happens to be an excellent coach, beloved by his players. At least, that’s how he was portrayed on Hard Knocks, and one of the men who works with Ryan every day says the Hard Knocks portrayal hit the nail on the head.

Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum said in an interview with ESPN 101 in St. Louis that the portrayal put forward by NFL Films was completely accurate.

“Steve Sabol and his crew at NFL Films, they do a great job and really what you saw with Rex is who he is,” Tannenbaum said, via SportsRadioInterviews.com. “He’s dynamic. He’s funny. He’s self-deprecating. That’s really who he is and I think the players can relate to his authenticity.”

Tannenbaum had nothing but good things to say about Hard Knocks, how it showed off the Jets to the league and inspired players to put in their best effort with the cameras on. Given that -- and given how entertaining Ryan and Co. were -- it’s too bad that the Jets won’t consider doing it again this year.