Rex Ryan will take certain criticism, but he wasn’t backing down from suggestions from one of his predecessors.
After ESPN analyst and former Jets coach Herm Edwards said he should have benched quarterback Geno Smith for missing a meeting, Ryan wasn’t exactly grateful for the advice.
“If Herm Edwards gets to coach another team again, then he can do exactly what he wants,” Ryan said on “The Michael Kay Show,” via the New York Daily News.
Then Ryan added, just for emphasis: “No offense, but I don’t care to be compared to him anyway.”
Zing.
Later on, Edwards agreed with Ryan, saying: “He’s exactly right. He shouldn’t worry about my opinion. There’s no doubt about it.”
To be honest, neither of them are exactly playing to win the game, or at least it’s not working.
Edwards was 39-41 as Jets coach, while Ryan is 43-42. Edwards had three playoff appearances to Ryan’s two.
Unless things turn around soon, Ryan could be joining Edwards on a television stage some day, and then they’ll have one more thing in common.