Jets' Ryan a Real Pip!

From a media perspective, Rex Ryan, the first-year head coach of the New York Jets, is a breath of fresh air compared to his predecessor Eric Mangini. While he has yet to coach game yet, Ryan has made a series of fighting-words like statements that will likely end up on bulletin boards across the NFL locker rooms.

Following a media availability at the conclusion of the Jets’ preseason training camp, Ryan took head on division rival New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Bellichek, telling New York sports radio station WFAN, "I never came here to kiss Bill BelichickBill Belichick's rings. I came to win, let's put it that way. So we'll see what happens. I'm certainly not intimidated by New England or anybody else."

Later, trading barbs with Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder who criticized Ryan for his remarks about the Patriots, he joked that he didn’t know who Crowder was. “I’m certainly not going to worry about what somebody else has to say,” Ryan said. “If I was younger, I’d take care of this myself.”

During his two years with the Jets, Mangini was often visibly uncomfortable with the hard hitting New York media. Mangini, who now is the coach of the Cleveland Browns, rarely said anything controversial and was extremely mum when it came talking about his players’ injury status.

So far, Ryan, son of equally flamboyant former NFL Coach Buddy Ryan, is the exact opposite. Now, let’s see if he can win.