The questions came fast and hard at Rex Ryan, questions no head coach wants to hear, questions about his job security.
He was standing behind a podium in the press room, proudly wearing a white Jets hat and a gray sweatshirt with J-E-T-S in green letters, when the interrogation began, and he was trapped in the line of fire.
He doesn’t know where he stands with rookie general manager John Idzik, doesn’t know whether he will still be standing when the dust clears on a third straight season on the outside of the playoffs looking in.
Ryan was asked if he still believes he is the right guy to lead the Jets beyond this year, and he said: “Of course I believe it. Of course, no question I believe it,” Ryan said during a press conference Monday. “There’s no doubt, but again, I’d rather get out of this press conference and go to work. That’s how I feel about this.”
Another barrage followed before I asked: “Why do you believe you’re the right man for this team?”
“I’m a competent guy even though I know that will be questioned a zillion times forward and backward. Whatever, that’s fine,” Ryan said.
“But I know I’m a good football coach. I believe in this team. I believe in this organization and I’m determined to bring a winner to this team. There’s no question about it. I know and I believe I’m the right guy for it. Now again, I’m not the guy making that decision.”
This is no easy call. It is a crossroads moment for the franchise. There are compelling arguments for Rex Must Go, and compelling arguments for Rex Must Stay.
I am no longer certain he is the right man for the job.
But I am not certain he is not.
The Great Rex Debate
REX MUST GO: He was forced on Idzik by owner Woody Johnson. Idzik will now want his own man.
REX MUST STAY: He appears to have a good working relationship with Idzik. “I think we both want the same thing, we both want to win,” Ryan said. “From the day I met him, it was clear that that’s what John wants to do. Obviously he wants to build a team that’s a perennial winner. I’ve had a great relationship with him, and that hasn’t changed one bit.”
REX MUST GO: It is time for the Jets to enter the new era of offensive football, and he isn’t the man you want developing a young quarterback.
REX MUST STAY: He was set up to fail with a rookie quarterback and dearth of playmakers, and Marty Mornhinweg can take care of the offense.
REX MUST GO: He ruined Mark Sanchez in the fourth quarter of the Snoopy Bowl with a coaching buttfumble.
REX MUST STAY: He is a defensive genius, just ask him. He can get the most out of these young defensive lions he has drafted.
REX MUST GO: You are what your record says you are. He’s 12-21 in his last 33 games and has now missed the playoffs three straight years.
REX MUST STAY: The players play hard for him and continue to lobby for him. “This team’s going to play hard, regardless, whether there’s a playoff scenario out there or not, this team’ll play hard,” Ryan said, “I’m confident of that.”
REX MUST GO: He was instrumental in picking most of these players.
REX MUST STAY: Continuity and stability is critical for any organization. Upheaval should always be a last resort, especially for a young team.
REX MUST GO: He’s not exactly Bill Belichick on game day, with or without the challenge flag.
REX MUST STAY: He’s fun to be around, even in his toned-down state.
REX MUST GO: He’s on his third offensive coordinator in three years, and the Jets still can’t punch their way out of a green-and-white paper bag.
REX MUST STAY: If he’ll cry at a team meeting, he’ll cry when he loses this job.
REX MUST GO: Since those back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances his first two seasons, the arrow is pointing down. “I think that this team is on the right path,” Ryan said. “It might not be reflective in our record right now, I understand that. But I believe this team is going in the right direction.”
REX MUST STAY: New York never scared him. He’s got the armadillo skin you need.
For Ryan, his “Play Like A Jet” mantra will soon become “Pray Like A Jet.”
If Idzik is still keeping an open mind about him, if he doesn’t have Darrell Bevell or Ken Whisenhunt on speed dial, then this would be the time for Ryan to coach the two greatest games of his life.
The kind of game he coached in Foxborough against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in the 2010 divisional playoffs, when Same Old Jets meant back in the AFC Championship Game.
Barring a total embarrassment in these next two games … one shaky vote for a one-year playoffs-or-bust Rextension, and a Stay of Rexecution.