It’s Time for the New York Jets to Renew Rex Ryan’s Contract

Jul 28, 2013; Cortland, NY, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan talks with general manager John Idzik following training camp at SUNY Cortland. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

John Idzik was dealt a “different” hand when he came on as the New York Jets’ general manager. He was forced to keep a head coach that was not chosen by him. A condition of his hiring was the requirement to keep Rex Ryan on as the head coach for the first year. Presumably, that means that GM Idzik will have the authority to dismiss Rex following the end of the current season. He would have the opportunity to hire “his” guy.

However, although this would be the “normal” move to make, it would be the WRONG move to make. Changing coaches after this season would be a disaster.

It’s time for the Jets to renew the contract of coach Rex Ryan, and secure him as the man as the Jets move forward over the next several years.

Why? This team has never quit on coach Ryan. Never. Even going back through the years, through the well-documented struggles of Mark Sanchez, the team fought hard to the very end. In 2011, for example, the team may have had in-fighting in the locker room, but they never gave up on the football field. Whether Rex knew about that or not, the key element is that the product on the field was NEVER AFFECTED. That is the mark of a good coach that is with the right group of players.

Even last year, when the output was a Rex Ryan low of six victories, it never was from lack of effort. When the famous “buttfumble” took place, Mark Sanchez was TRYING to make a play. My point is that the effort was there, even though the output wasn’t all the time. You could see this was a team that would not give up, and that is a testament to the feeling that these players have for their coach. You can’t replicate that.

I know they are playing a game, but, when you are not playing for a guy you respect, your effort just goes downhill. Pro players, believe it or not, are sensitive about who they play for. If they aren’t with the right guy, they start mouthing off, and just becoming a distraction. Nobody is a distraction on this team, and thank Rex Ryan for putting us in that position.

Oct 7, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) runs the ball in the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Jets won 30-28. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Don’t forget about the development of Geno Smith either, which would be severely set back if Rex Ryan was removed as coach. Look at the game last night. Geno Smith went from a turnover machine, to protecting the football in one week. I am not saying that he is perfect now, but think about the development, and his upward arc on that development.

Let’s assume Geno continues to develop under the tutileage of this regime. David Lee gets his mechanics better and better every day. Marty Mornhinweg works with this young man, and he becomes an able quarterback in the West Coast offense. He protects the football, he makes good decisions, and shows that he can lead this football team every week. Each week he gets more and more efficient, and the offense shows a lot of promise moving ahead into 2014.

The Jets then remove Rex Ryan and staff, and make Geno learn an entire new system? Even if he performs well, there is no guarantee that a new head coach would retain Marty Mornhinweg, and/or David Lee. The odds are very much against that scenario, to be honest. If Rex goes, the system that Geno has spent the year learning goes with him.

The bottom line is this, you have a football team that believes in their head coach. Through good times and bad, this team does not quit on him. You have a quarterback that is improving day by day, and week by week, under the system that comes with the Rex Ryan regime. This is all blatantly obvious.

It’s time to guarantee continuity going forward, by renewing Rex Ryan’s contract.