Jets coach Rex Ryan ripped the Baltimore Orioles for not moving their game to accomodate the Ravens. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan ripped into the Baltimore Orioles while discussing a scheduling conflict involving the team that prevents the Baltimore Ravens from opening the season at home as Super Bowl champions.

The NFL announced last month that because Major League Baseball and the Orioles wouldn’t budge from a previously scheduled game, the Ravens will not get to open the season at home, something that has become tradition for Super Bowl champions. The Orioles already have a game scheduled on Thursday, Sept. 5, against the Chicago White Sox.

The fact that the Orioles refused to move their game infuriated Ryan, the Ravens’ former defensive coordinator.

“Well who really cares, you’ve got 81 at home, maybe you could have done the right thing and given one up and then played 82 on the road and then 80 at home,” Ryan said, according to the New York Daily News. “I really don’t think people are going to care about that game.”

“You have a chance to have the defending world champs open up the season at home where they rightfully should. That’s unfortunate,” he added.

Ryan’s comments came on a conference call discussing the Jets’ 2013 schedule. The Ravens, meanwhile, will kick off next season with a game in Denver against the Broncos on Sept. 5.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan was uninjured in a three-car crash last week that was allegedly caused by him running a red light, according to Deadspin.

According to a police report and source, damage at the scene supported Ryan’s denial that he was speeding, but he allegedly did not deny running a red light at an intersection in Bethlehem, Pa. The Mustang he was driving collided with another vehicle that was sent crashing into a third vehicle.

There were no injuries and the police source described all three vehicles as sustaining moderate damage.

A Jets spokesman told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News that Ryan only received a warning.

Rex Ryan received a warning- not a citation- after accident, according to team spokesman. #nyj—
Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) January 22, 2013

Rex Ryan and his wife, Michelle, have made headlines since his hire as Jets coach. (Andy Marlin/Getty Images)

Rex Ryan’s attempt to decompress after a tumultuous 6-10 Jets season has only landed him back in the tabloids. While vacationing at The Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, Ryan was photographed by the New York Daily News lounging by the pool reading a book and revealing an unusual tattoo on his right arm.

The tattoo features a blonde-haired woman who bears a strong resemblance to his wife, Michelle, wearing nothing except a green Mark Sanchez Jets jersey.

Ryan reportedly cursed at the photographer before leaving with his wife.

Ryan displayed great loyalty to Sanchez for most of his four seasons as Jets head coach before benching him in favor of Greg McElroy in Week 13 against the Chargers. While Jets owner Woody Johnson said Ryan will return, and Sanchez is guaranteed $8.25 million in 2013, the pair’s future with the team remains uncertain.

Gary Myers of the Daily News ponders how the tattoo might affect the Jets and their quarterback controversy:

Jets coach Rex Ryan must address the media during the week following his team’s final game, according to league rules. (Elsa/Getty Images)

Since their season ended, the New York Jets have fired their general manager and are expected to fire their offensive coordinator. But head coach Rex Ryan, who survived a Black Monday on which seven head coaches were fired, has yet to address the media, and league rules stipulate that he must do so during the week following the team’s final game.

According to a report from the New York Daily News‘ Manish Mehta, the Jets cancelled Ryan’s press conference on Monday, and Ryan skipped an interview later that day on the team’s flagship station.

The coach, whose team finished 6-10 in his fourth season at the helm, flew out of town on Wednesday morning and will not be back to the team’s Florham Park headquarters on Thursday, either.

Ryan’s trip is of a personal nature, the News has learned.

The Jets likely won’t make an official announcements of coaching changes until they hire a new general manager, which could happen as soon as this week. Ryan told his staff to handle their paperwork during the rest of the week, but that no official moves are likely to happen until a new GM is in place.

The Jets are now 34-30 during Ryan’s tenure. Assistant GM Scott Cohen is believed to be the top internal candidate to replace fired GM Mike Tannenbaum.

The Jets announced the firing of general manager Mike Tannenbaum and the return of head coach Rex Ryan on Monday morning.

Tannenbaum has been rumored to be on the way out since last year’s disappointing 8-8 finish and throughout the team’s 6-10 showing in 2012. Several of his personnel moves, including the high-profile trade for quarterback Tim Tebow, and contracts to Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes, have been widely criticized.

The Jets hired Tannenbaum as director of player contract negotiations in 1997. He was promoted to general manager in 2006. The Jets have qualified for the playoffs in just three of his seven seasons as general manager, appearing in the 2006 wild card game, and 2009 and 2010 AFC Championship Games.

“Mike devoted 15 years of service to the Jets, and I want to thank him for his hard work and dedication,” owner Woody Johnson said in a statement. “Although he helped guide us to two consecutive AFC Championship games, we are not where we want to be, and a new general manager will be critical to getting this team back on the right track.”

After a promising start, Ryan is now 38-32 in four seasons as the Jets head coach, including 14-18 in the last two seasons.

“I believe that he has the passion, the talent, and the drive to successfully lead our team,” Johnson said.

The Jets reportedly have not assured Rex Ryan’s return in 2013. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Jets coach Rex Ryan would welcome being fired if owner Woody Johnson will not commit to paying for a remodeled offense in 2013, according to a New York Daily News report.

Sources told The Daily News that Ryan has intimated to “anyone who will listen” that he would prefer being fired if Johnson will not invest in offensive roster changes and most likely replacing offensive coordinator Tony Sparano with a new play-caller.

The Daily News reported that the team has not guaranteed Ryan’s return internally with one game left and the Jets a disappointing 6-9. Sparano has been linked to rumors of his firing amidst the Jets’ offensive woes. Both decisions could boil down to whether or not Johnson wants to eat those contracts, while spending more for new coaches. If Johnson fires Ryan, he will owe him two years and more than $6 million on his remaining contract.

“If Woody’s not willing to do what it takes to fix the team, then (Ryan) knows he’s better off being fired,” a team source said. “If Woody is willing to eat some money and spend to get us out of this mess, then it’s worth staying.”

“The million-dollar question is how much dead money is Woody willing to absorb for 2013 with front office, coaches and players?” a league source familiar with the situation said. “If Woody’s not willing to spend, then (Ryan) would want out. He’d be a lame duck. Anybody would want out.”

Greg McElroy did not tell the Jets staff about his concussion until Thursday. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

New York Jets quarterback Greg McElroy did not tell the Jets training staff about his concussion until Thursday. But he told teammates about his symptoms much earlier in the week, ESPN.com’s Jane McManus reported.

According to the report, McElroy told several teammates about his reluctance to reveal the concussion to the Jets staff. Jets head coach Rex Ryan surprisingly announced that McElroy would be out for Sunday’s finale against the Buffalo Bills and that Mark Sanchez would start in his place.

McManus named wide receiver Clyde Gates and offensive guard Matt Slauson as two of the teammates that were aware of McElroy’s plight. Gates was diagnosed with a concussion earlier this season, so McElroy came and talked to him on Tuesday in the team’s hotel.

“He came to my room and we talked about it,” Gates told ESPNNewYork.com. “He was hurting real bad. I was like, ‘Bro, I know, I’ve been down that road already. I’m just saying you can’t try to tough it out cause you going to end up hurting yourself. You’ve got to let everybody know how you really feel.’ “

Slauson, meanwhile, told McManus that he suffered a concussion in either 2010 or 2011, about which he did not alert the Jets. But he said that McElroy’s concussion concerned him.

“He definitely has that (warrior) mentality, but it got to the point where it was scaring him,” Slauson said.

Tim Tebow reportedly asked to be left out of the Jets Wildcat packages on Sunday. (Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow asked to be taken out of the team’s Wildcat packages on Sunday, peeved at the coaching staff for passing over him in favor of Greg McElroy as the team’s starter this week.

ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini and Jane McManus reported that Tebow became so irritated that the Jets chose McElroy to start that he told the staff that he did not want to be part of the “situational” packages.

Tebow was active during the Jets’ 27-17 loss to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, but he did not appear in the game. The Jets used wide receiver Jeremy Kerley in Wildcat packages. Kerley completed the one pass he attempted, a 42-yard strike to Clyde Gates. That outpaces Tebow’s 39 yards passing all season.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan said after the game that he used Kerley in the Wildcat formation because he wanted to catch the Chargers defense off-guard.

“I also wanted to give Kerley a shot at running some Wildcat things,” Ryan said. “We knew they wouldn’t expect him to throw the ball, and that was the case.”

When asked about Kerley’s feature in the Wildcat package, Tebow said afterward that “it just kind of happens.”

Tebow has been frustrated overall by a lack of playing time this season. He has appeared in 11 games while attempting only eight passes and 32 rushes all season.

ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen reported on Saturday that it was a “virtual certainty” Tebow would play with the Jacksonville Jaguars next season after the Jets either trade him there or they release him.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan is reportedly “leaning toward” starting Greg McElroy at quarterback over Mark Sanchez on Sunday. (Elsa/Getty Images)

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan is “leaning toward” giving Greg McElroy the start over Mark Sanchez on Sunday when the Jets take on the Jacksonville Jaguars, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported Monday night.

La Canfora reported that the debate between the Jets’ coaching staff and front office centers more on Sanchez’s value to the team. Based purely on football, he reported, most of the staff prefers McElroy at this point.

From La Canfora’s report:

The staff has noted the improved pace and verve of the offense during McElroy’s brief stint replacing starter Mark Sanchez and rallying the team for a win over Arizona. The players responded well to the novice passer in the huddle, and there was a renewed spirit from the moribund offense, which Sanchez continued to slump and turn the ball over.

One source suggested to La Canfora it was 65-35 in McElroy’s favor but noted that Ryan still was set to meet with general manager Mike Tannenbaum about the issue tonight.

The Jets trailed the Arizona Cardinals 3-0 on Sunday when Ryan benched Sanchez, who had thrown three interceptions. McElroy led a 10-play, 69-yard drive that culminated in the eventual game-winning touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter.

Earlier Monday, Ryan said that he “needed a little more time” to decide which quarterback would start the team’s next game at Jacksonville, but he said he would likely choose by Wednesday.

At 5-7, the Jets are two games behind both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals for the AFC’s sixth and final playoff spot.

Another item of note from La Canfora’s report: Tim Tebow is not being considered as a starting option, regardless of health.

Tim Tebow said the criticism from within the Jets makes him want to be a better teammate. (Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

“Terrible Tebow” may be his new nickname, but in typical fashion, New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow responded to a “terrible” tag reportedly placed on him by an anonymous defensive starter on the team by taking the high road.

According to a report from Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com, Tebow said that the new “terrible” description is just all the more reason why he needs to work on becoming not only a better quarterback but a better teammate:

“I always find the good and the positive in every situation and the positive of this is to go and work a little harder and build better relationships with your teammates.”

Earlier this week, there were reports from The New York Daily News that one of his own teammates from the Jets called him “terrible.” The criticism, though unsubstantiated, prompted head coach Rex Ryan to take a hard-line against those who choose to insult someone from within their own organization,  saying it’s a cowardly move from whoever said it. Ryan reportedly asked his players at a meeting who made the comment, but no one confessed:

“Did I address it? I absolutely addressed it. Because I think it’s a cowardly thing. If you’re not going to put your name to it, I think that’s about as cowardly of a thing as there is.”

The Jets enter Week 11 with a 3-6 record. Tebow will have the opportunity to silence his critics and perhaps his own teammates as the team heads to St. Louis for a game on Sunday against the Rams.

Rex Ryan has been voted the most overrated coach in the NFL, according to 103 active players in the league.

It’s not Bill Belichick and it’s not Andy Reid. The honor goes to Rex Ryan.

The players have spoken and the New York Jets’ coach has been voted “the most overrated coach in the NFL,” according to a poll conducted by Sporting News that surveyed 103 players from 27 teams in the league.

Though Belichick and Reid scored second and third, respectively, it was Ryan who was described by one AFC offensive player as having a coaching style “way over the top.” The player went on to say that Ryan’s reputation for acting out in front of the cameras is partly a function of his working in a media-saturated market like New York, but went on to explain that the record shows Ryan is not as good a coach as he’s perhaps believed to be:

“I don’t even know if you’d call him overrated anymore because it’s gonna be a couple of years since he was in the AFC finals. He’s pretty funny, and he’s a pretty good coach. But not THAT good.”

Ryan led the Jets to two AFC Championship Game appearances starting in 2009 in his first season as the head coach but fell well short of another appearance last season and seems headed for another disappointing season this year. He has also been famous for his bold predictions, guaranteeing the Jets will make the Super Bowl then failing to deliver.

Mike Shanahan of the Washington Redskins received eight votes, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin got four nods and John Harbaugh, head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, received two votes. Players could not vote for their own coach.

Mark Sanchez will remain the Jets starting QB, while coaches try to get Tim Tebow involved in the offense. (Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

Another ugly loss — 30-9 to the Dolphins — sends the Jets into their bye week with a 3-5 record and a fanbase that’s calling for Tim Tebow to take over for Mark Sanchez at quarterback. Head coach Rex Ryan told the media this morning that Sanchez will remain the starter when the Jets play Nov. 11 at Seattle.

“Offensively, the problems aren’t one man,” Ryan said Monday. “If it was one man, that would be easy to do. But it’s not on one person. Sometimes, we’re accurate with the football (and) we drop some passes. Sometimes, the pass might not have been as accurate as we wanted it to be. Then there’s times when our protection let us down.”

If it was one guy, I think it’s easy to say we’d make that change,” Ryan said. “But I think Mark gives us the best chance to win. That’s how I feel. Can Tim be successful? Yeah, absolutely. We’ll look at that as well. But in my opinion, Mark as the starting quarterback gives my football team the best chance to win.”

“Every competitor wants to be out there playing more,” Ryan said. “It wouldn’t be shocking if that’s how he felt.”

Ryan said his coaching staff will use the bye week to draw up more offensive plays that can use Tebow’s unique abilities.

“I think we’ll take a hard look at how we’re using him, what we’re asking him to do,” Ryan said. “Are there other things we can do with him? We will definitely look at that.”

Rex Ryan said he would consider putting Tim Tebow in at running back against the Patriots on Sunday. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

Jets coach Rex Ryan told the New York Daily News that playing Tim Tebow at running back was “a possibility” against the Patriots on Sunday.

“By playing quarterback, he knows all the positions,” said Ryan. So can you plug him in at running back? Can you plug him in at tight end? I think the answer is yes.”

Ryan added that the backup quarterback’s skill set was based on power rather than speed and called him a “jack-of-all-trades.” Tebow has lined up at running back this season but only as a blocker.

The Jets have suffered a number of injuries to the backfield, including running backs Bilal Powell, out with a dislocated shoulder, and Joe McKnight, who has a high ankle sprain.

Jets coach Rex Ryan says the chop block that ending Brian Cushing’s season was not dirty. (Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

New York Jets guard Matt Slauson is being called out by players like Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews for using a chop block on Houston Texas linebacker Brian Cushing that tore Cushing’s ACL and ended his season.

Slauson’s coach Rex Ryan said there was nothing dirty about the block, which occurred in the second quarter of the Texans’ 23-17 victory over the Jets Monday night.

“I would never question our guys as far as trying to injure someone or try and do something not in the confinement of the rules,” Ryan said on ESPN radio Tuesday. “I would have to say I would definitely question (the flack Slauson is getting), I never saw anything specifically (when) I was just watching our game tape. I’ll say this — we got rolled up a few times in our game, and sometimes in this game you gotta be fortunate to avoid some injury.”

Texans coach Gary Kubiak declined to say if the hit was illegal and said that’s something for the NFL to decide.

“That’s in the league’s hands,” Kubiak said Wednesday. “It doesn’t change the fact that we’re sitting here today having to deal with losing a heck of a player.”

The Jets could use Antonio Cromartie in certain offensive packages as a wide receiver this season. (Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

The New York Jets are preparing to use cornerback Antonio Cromartie in certain offensive packages this season, Cromartie told the New York Daily News on Saturday.

“They’re trying to make up a ‘Cro Package,’” Cromartie said. “So I’ll see what goes in there.”

“I believe I can do it,” Cromartie added. “You got to pick your spots. You got to figure out what routes I can run, what routes I can’t run. That’s what we’re going to do.”

On Friday, Jets head coach Rex Ryan said that the team might use Cromartie during some snaps at wide receiver.

“You have 53 guys on your roster and 45 are active and you’re sitting back some games there has to be some crossover,” Ryan said. “Don’t be surprised if Cromartie plays some receiver, that’s something we talked about. You have to be ready for those type of things.”

The plan has been used before by current Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano when he was the offensive coordinator with the Washington Redskins in 2001. The team sometimes lined up cornerback Champ Bailey at wide receiver during the season.

The Jets are thin at wide receiver beyond Santonio Holmes. Ryan said Saturday that he was disappointed in second-year wideout Jeremy Kerley’s progression. Beyond that, the Jets have Chaz Schilens, Patrick Turner and second-round pick Stephen Hill, for whom the Jets traded up to get in April’s draft. But Cromartie thinks he can help out.

“I believe I can do it,” Cromartie said. “You got to pick your spots. You got to figure out what routes I can run, what routes I can’t run. That’s what we’re going to do.”

Jets head coach Rex Ryan says he is the best defensive coach in football. The Jets D was fifth in the NFL in total defense last season. (Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

Well, it seems as if New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan is back at it with his bold predictions and boastful statements. First, he said the Jets were going to win the Super Bowl.  (So far, the Jets haven’t made an appearance in Ryan’s three years as coach). Now he says he is the cream of the crop as far as NFL defensive coaches are concerned.

“I look at myself as the best defensive coach in football. That’s saying something because Dick LeBeau is pretty darn good.  Bill Belichick is pretty good.  But that’s the way I’ve always believed,” Ryan said to the New York Daily News.  “And you know what? I believe it because [of] the guys I coach with, there’s no doubt about that.  And the guys I’ve coached.  But that’s the truth.  That’s kind of how I feel.”

Ryan also said he is going to have a larger role with the defense than he did last season. In his three seasons with the team, the Jets have finished 1st, 3rd and fifth in the NFL in total defense, respectively.

“I’m going to be more involved over there… whether it’s calling games or whatever,” Ryan said. “Obviously, (defensive coordinator) Mike Pettine is my right-hand guy. He’s always been my right-hand guy. That’s the way it’s always going to be.”

Jets receiver Santonio Holmes says a two-quarterback system in New York won’t work. Head coach Rex Ryan says Holmes is a receiver, not a coordinator. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

New York Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes is known for being vocal about wanting his share of catches and like every diva wide receiver he wants the ball every play.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan sees it differently even though Holmes said last month that a two-quarterback system with Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow won’t work.

“Well, I understand what Holmes is saying, you know Tone’s talking about a guy … (the starting quarterback) has to get a feel and all that kind of stuff,” Ryan said on ESPN Thursday. “But I brought Santonio in here to be a receiver, not to be the offensive coordinator. And that’s the way it is. ”I love Santonio, but if I wanted to hire him as our offensive coordinator, we would’ve.”

The New York Jets were featured on HBO’s NFL reality series Hard Knocks in 2010, but head coach Rex Ryan was noncommittal when discussing the possibility of his team returning to the spotlight.

“If we’re asked, we’ll talk about it, but quite honestly we’ve just had some casual conversations,” Ryan told USA Today. ”When we did Hard Knocks, I thought it was excellent — I thought it was great exposure for our team … at that time.”

The Jets are certainly an interesting target, with both the turmoil between Santonio Holmes and Mark Sanchez to end the season, as well as the addition of Tim Tebow.

Still, Ryan implied that he wasn’t even certain HBO was intent on returning to New York.

“No sense in getting into the what-ifs if we’re not asked,” Ryan told the paper. “If we’re asked, then we’ll sit down and have those conversations.”

HBO would like once again to feature the New York Jets on its reality series “Hard Knocks” this preseason, but head coach Rex Ryan is surprisingly against it, according to Adam Schein of FOX Sports.

Jets owner Woody Johnson reportedly wants his team back on the hit show, but Ryan disagrees, saying he doesn’t want “any more of a circus-type atmosphere” after the team’s disappointing 2011 season.

The Jets were must-watch television on “Hard Knocks” in 2010 thanks to Ryan’s foul mouth, Antonio Cromartie’s struggle to name all nine of his children, and the contract holdout of Darrelle Revis. But if the Jets opt out this time, HBO will need to find a backup plan.

Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos have already said no; the network is reportedly considering a show focused on the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, coached by Jim and John Harbaugh.

Mark Sanchez’s input was not considered by the New York Jets in regards to the Tim Tebow trade decision, according to ESPN.

“Mark’s job is to play quarterback, it’s not to be the general manager,” said Jets head coach Rex Ryan. “That’s what it is. Our decisions are based on the team.”

Ryan defended the trade and insisted that it would affect the team in a positive manner giving Sanchez a competitive push. Ryan said the only way there would be a quarterback controversy would be if the Jets struggled.

Sanchez spoke about the trade in a conference call last evening saying that he didn’t find out about the trade until it was completed. He noted that the front office usually consulted with him in the past in regards to similar matters.

“That’s a team decision, a trade that they made,” Sanchez said. “They’re excited about it and so am I. It didn’t really change anything.”

Sanchez struggled last season, throwing 18 interceptions with a 78.2 QB rating.

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan said that newly-acquired quarterback Tim Tebow will be a “major contributor” next season, according to NFL.com.

“Tim is going to be a major contributor to our football team,” Ryan said. “With the Wildcat specifically, the great thing is you don’t know if we’re going to run it one snap a game or 20 snaps a game — you have no idea. Every week, it could be different. That’s some of the preparation problems he gives you.”

Ryan also skirted any speculation that there will be locker room issues with Tebow.

“I truly believe Tim is going to fit in to our locker room,” Ryan said. “What I believe is the strength of our team the last two years was our locker room. Obviously we learned what happened from this past year and things. I’m tired of dwelling on it, to be honest with you. Our team is close.”

At first glance, Tim Tebow to the New York Jets doesn’t seem like a perfect match — straitlaced, Christian quarterback playing for Rex Ryan, the impulsive, foul-mouthed head coach. But Tebow said in a conference call last night that he’s actually excited to play for Ryan, the controversial head honcho for Gang Green.

“I wanted to play for Coach Ryan ever since I saw ‘Hard Knocks,’” Tebow said. “He just seemed like a coach who loves football and is passionate about the game of football. He’s definitely a players’ coach. I just love that about him.

“I have so much respect for Coach Ryan. He’s a coach you want to play for, a coach you want to go out there and do good for. … There’s not many NFL locker rooms you’re going to go where you have the cleanest language, so I’m not too worried about that.”

Tebow also praised Mark Sanchez, the incumbent quarterback in New York, saying he wasn’t daunted by the prospect of competing for playing time with the Jets’ new $40.5 million man.

“I think we’re both extremely competitive,” Tebow said. “I think we’ll be able to push each other to get a lot better. I think we’ll have a great working relationship, and we’ve had a great relationship off the field. He’s such a classy guy. I’ll be very honored to call him my teammate.”

New York Jets management addressed the media today and gave an answer to the question on everyone’s minds — who’s the quarterback next season, Mark Sanchez or Peyton Manning?

Well, more like a non-answer. Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum and coach Rex Ryan believe in Sanchez, according to an ESPN report, but they’re also leaving the door open to explore other options.

“We believe in Mark,” Tannenbaum said. “I think he is going to continue being a winning NFL quarterback that has started and won a lot of games for the Jets, and we are excited that he is here. But with that said, just philosophically, my general approach is when there are opportunities for the team, I have a fiduciary duty to the team to look into it. The day I got hired I meant what I said, every rock, every day. We look at every opportunity every day to get better.”

Manning is still under contract with the Indianpolis Colts, but speculation abounds that the Colts may choose to unload Manning soon rather than pay him the $28 million bonus that triggers on March 8. If that happens, the Jets may look into acquiring the veteran QB.

Ryan insists that while the Jets are willing to explore the Manning possibility, that doesn’t mean they’ve lost faith in Sanchez.

“In my opinion, we have the best corner [Darrelle Revis] in the history of football along with Deion Sanders and we are still looking at a million corners,” Ryan said. “We also have Antonio Cromartie. We have a great group of corners, but that doesn’t mean we are not going to do our due diligence and look at every possibility regardless of the position.”

Over the weekend, it was reported that former Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley was on the verge of returning to his old team, the Arizona Cardinals. Now, Haley’s future appears to be in doubt, as the New York Jets have emerged as a possibility for his next coaching gig.

The 44-year-old Haley will meet tomorrow with Jets officials at the team’s Florham Park facility about a possible position on Rex Ryan’s coaching staff, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This news comes on the heels of the announcement earlier today that former Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano would be the Jets’ next offensive coordinator. A position on Sparano’s staff makes perfect sense for Haley, as the two go way back. Both men are from the Bill Parcells coaching tree, as they worked together with the Cowboys between 2004 and ’06.

Haley has worked for the Jets before — he was with the team for six seasons between 1995 and 2000, first as a scout and then as an assistant wide receivers coach.

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan said on Monday that, after meeting with players individually, he made a mistake in naming six captains and didn’t have “the pulse of the team” in the way he had in the past, according to ESPN.

“Normally, I’m a guy that really has the pulse of this team, and I don’t think I had the pulse of the team the way I’ve done in the past,” Ryan said. “When I met with players, I think that became clear to me.”

Without naming names, Ryan added that he will no longer be naming captains because he believes it detracted from the team concept, according to ESPN.

“It’s not a reflection of anybody in particular, but we’re not going to have those anymore,” said Ryan.

Ryan was criticized for naming wide receiver Santonio Holmes a captain; it was reported by ESPN on Monday that Holmes was benched in Sunday’s loss to Miami because he was arguing with teammates in the huddle. Additionally, according to ESPN, several players said Holmes poisoned the locker room through the season.

“For whatever reason, I don’t think we were as close as a football team as we were the first two years, and now we’re sitting on the outside looking in,” said Ryan. “We’re watching the other teams in playoff games, and we think we should be in. I think that’s painful. Beyond belief, that’s painful.”

Outspoken New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan was moved to tears when addressing his playoff-eliminated squad this morning, according to Jenny Vrentas of The Star-Ledger.

Rex Ryan cried when addressing team this morning. Rex "pleaded" with players to be a team, said they must come back and build a team. #nyj

—
Jenny Vrentas (@JennyVrentas) January 02, 2012

The Jets lost their final three games of the season to finish outside of the playoffs for the first time since the 2008-09 season. With Ryan as the team’s head coach, the club had reached two consecutive AFC Championship Games before finishing 8-8 this year.

New York entered the final week of the season with a chance to earn the final AFC wild card spot, however their loss this Sunday to the Miami Dolphins eliminated them from contention.

Despite their recent 29-14 loss to their cross-town rival, the New York Giants, Jets head coach Rex Ryan affirmed again that he will stick by starting quarterback Mark Sanchez.

“I’ve said from Day One I thought he was the best quarterback in the National Football League, I even put him over Tom Brady, so of course I recognize Peyton Manning is an unbelievable quarterback,” Ryan said on ESPN 1050 Radio Monday, as transcribed by The Star-Ledger. “But do I think it’s even a consideration for us? No, I don’t.”

“I’m going to say this, I’m going to tell you there is no way we are looking to replace Mark Sanchez, there’s no doubt,” Ryan said.

Sanchez completed just 30 of 59 attempts in Saturday’s loss to the Giants. The third-year quarterback threw for one touchdown and two interceptions. He also lost a fumble and was tackled for a safety. Through 15 games this season the 25-year-old has completed 56.2 percent of his passes, and has thrown for 24 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

This is hardly he first time Ryan has spoken out in defense of the quarterback whom he drafted out of USC in the first round in 2009. Earlier this season, Ryan told the press that as long as he was the head coach with New York, Sanchez would be his quarterback.

The Jets, 8-7, will be playing the Miami Dolphins this weekend in an attempt to claim the final Wild Card spot in the NFC. The game will be played at Miami which may pose a problem for New York, who are just 2-5 this season on the road.

Last season the Jets finished 11-5 with Sanchez as their starting quarterback.

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan will give first-team snaps at practice to veteran backup quarterback Mark Brunell over starting quarterback Mark Sanchez, according to NBC Sports. Ryan reportedly made the decision in an attempt to motivate Sanchez.

“You know me. If I think something’s working, we’ll go with it,” Ryan told the Daily News. “I don’t think it really matters, but for some reason he got a little hot under the collar and gave that super competitive fighting spirit that we know he has. It seems to work.”

Ryan made a similar move last summer, which prompted Sanchez to tell reporters he “wanted to fight” Ryan. Despite the move, Ryan flatly stated earlier this month that Sanchez will be the quarterback as long as Ryan is coaching in New York.

Over 10 games this season, Sanchez has amassed 2,333 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Brunell, 41, has not taken the majority of snaps for a team since 2006 when he was the Washington Redskins starting quarterback.

The NFL has fined New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan $75,000 for using an obscenity toward a fan in a Week 10 loss to the New England Patriots, according to a tweet from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The sometimes controversial head coach allegedly responded to a New England Patriots fan in the stands who reportedly told Ryan that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was “better than him.” Ryan has been accused of responding with an expletive while on his way into the locker room.

“I obviously, you know, made a mistake,” Ryan said to the media last Monday. “I was full of emotion and just popped off, and obviously I know I represent the National Football League and I know I represent the Jets.  I know it was a mistake and I apologize.  This is who I am.  I made a mistake.”

Ryan similarly received a $50,000 fine last season during Super Bowl weekend for flashing his middle finger to a fan during a MMA fight in Florida.

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan reportedly was recorded swearing at a fan after the Jets’ lost handily to the rival New England Patriots 37-16 this past Sunday, NBC Sports claims.

The NFL will reportedly “take a look” at the video and determine if any action is necessary.

Reports indicate that what ignited the controversial coach to a profanity was an off-screen Patriots fan telling Ryan that Belichick is “better than” him.

Ryan allegedly responded to the fan with an expletive on his way to the locker room after the game.

The Patriots and Jets have a long standing rivalry in the AFC East. The Patriots edged out the Jets for first place in the division and sit atop the AFC East with a 6-3 record; the Jets are now 5-4 after the loss.

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan will make his acting debut this summer, however his first role may be a tougher one than anyone could have ever expected. The outspoken head coach will reportedly play a Patriots fan in an upcoming movie, according to the New York Post.

Ryan, 48, will play both a lawyer and a Patriots fan in an Adam Sandler project scheduled to be filmed in Massachusetts this summer. According to the Post, Ryan’s lines will include comments about both Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.

“He was great enough to be loose and funny about it,” Sandler said on an NFL.com podcast. “… He’s really cool.”

The third year head coach is known for his sense of humor, however it is often times at the Patriots’ expense. Ryan and Belichick are known for exchanging words through the media before big matchups between the two AFC East division rivals.