Rex Ryan Up to His Old Tricks?

Jun 17, 2014; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan answers questions from media during minicamp at Jets Atlantic Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

Is the old Rex Ryan starting to creep back into the newer version of the coach? Let’s see.

When talking about this year’s Jets and last year’s edition, here is what Rex told Manish Mehta:

“I believe we’re better than that. I believe we’re a lot better than that,” Ryan said of last year’s 8-8 squad, per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. “Eight-and-eight would be a hell of a disappointment for us. I’m just telling you that I believe this team is on the cusp of doing some special things. … I’m confident we will be a playoff team.”

So, what do you think? Is coach Rex Ryan speaking out of school again? Didn’t Rex learn from the constant Super Bowl predictions? Or is this just confidence, not cockiness?

This is different. For one, he is not making a guarantee. “I’m confident” that something will happen is not a prediction. It’s saying that you feel good about a situation coming to fruition. Confidence is different than cockiness.

I submit this as well, even if it is Rex of old, who cares? Didn’t we get sick of Rex sounding like he was attached to a John Idzik leash? Some even thought he was “neutered”. Didn’t we want a little bit of the old Rex back?

Go get it coach, we have your back.