New York Jets Players Show Love for Rex Ryan After the Game

No matter what happens with Jets head coach Rex Ryan, we know how his players feel. The players, love, always did love, and always will love, Rex Ryan. Whether he is back for 2015 or fired tomorrow, Rex Ryan has always had the support of this locker room.

Some of the players shared their fondest thoughts and memories of their head coach, following the game against the Dolphins this afternoon.

Turn the page to read some of their thoughts:

First up is big Willie Colon:

“It’s hard not to be somber, especially for me. When I left Pittsburgh and I came here (before the 2013 season), Rex was the first person to call me. I knew I wanted to play for him and was honored to play for him. It’s tough, because everybody loves Rex. Deep down inside, we love him as a person. We love him as a coach. Because through this all, he’s led the charge, man. He’s taken so much and he’s never ran from anything. He’s always stood up and put his foot in the middle of the ring, and challenged and fought for this team and fought for this organization. He’s going to be missed, if he goes.

Dec 21, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan shakes hands with New York Jets linebacker

(97) before a game against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Calvin Pace had this to say:

“He told us not to play for him, but deep down, everybody’s playing for him. It’s only right to send him out with a win. (In Saturday night’s team meeting), we talked, we laughed, we cracked some jokes. He said, ‘Don’t play for me. Play for yourselves.’ I can’t speak for everyone, but me personally, this game was for him. It’s a results-based game. You don’t win, bad things happen. That’s unfortunate, because it’s not a lack of effort. It’s just sometimes, you just can’t get out of your own way. It’s very easy for a lot of people to quit. That never happened. That’s something for these guys to be commended on. If the decision was up to me, he’d still be here. It would be a sad day if that happens (Ryan getting fired).

Dec 14, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; New York Jets quarterback

(1) enters the field before a game against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

Here are Michael Vick’s thoughts:

“The entire game was for Rex. We wanted to go out and send Rex out with a bang, with a win, most importantly, and we were able to do that. (After the game, Ryan told the players) he was proud of us for laying it all out on the line and fighting hard throughout our season when there was so much turmoil. (At Saturday night’s team meeting) everybody was pretty much emotional to some degree — last game, don’t know what’s going to happen. It takes a toll on everybody. But he was his normal self. Rex came out in the pregame speech (and his message) was that he wanted us to go out and focus on today, and not worry about tomorrow.”