(Splash News)
WE’RE CONFUSED, TOO: Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (inset) is immortalized on the arm of coach Rex Ryan, whose tattoo shows his wife Michelle wearing just a No. 6 Sanchez jersey. (Splash News; Paul J. Bereswill)
WE’RE CONFUSED, TOO: Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (inset) is immortalized on the arm of coach Rex Ryan, whose tattoo shows his wife Michelle wearing just a No. 6 Sanchez jersey. (
)
A close-up of Rex’s tattoo (Splash News)
Tat’s just Rex being Rex.
That was the reaction from people around the Jets organization about photos that surfaced yesterday of coach Rex Ryan’s tattoo on his right arm of his wife Michelle wearing nothing but a Mark Sanchez jersey.
“I don’t think guys care at all,” defensive lineman Mike DeVito told The Post. “Guys have all kinds of tattoos. Rex is a great coach and that’s all we care about.”
Several players said they had no idea Ryan had the tattoo. Coaches generally have a separate area of the locker room where they shower and dress.
There was speculation on TV and the Internet the tattoo possibly was not real. But several people with the Jets said they have seen the tattoo before.
According to a source close to Ryan, the coach got the tattoo shortly after the 2010 season, so it came before Sanchez committed 52 turnovers in two years. It also came well before Tim Tebow became a Jet, ending any speculation Michelle Ryan was “Tebowing” in the tattoo.
Photos of the Ryans were snapped at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, where they are taking a vacation after the Jets’ 6-10 season. Ryan has not spoken to reporters since the season ended. He did not respond to messages left for him yesterday. The Jets have a press conference scheduled for Tuesday with Ryan and owner Woody Johnson.
The Post spoke with a handful of players and staff members yesterday who did not want to be quoted, but laughed at the idea of Ryan’s tattoo being a big deal.
However, for the Jets organization the attention on their sunbathing coach could present problems. It underscores the current environment around the team where there seems to be an odd story around every corner and a perception the media is obsessed with the circus-like nature of the team.
This comes in the middle of a search for a general manager and the revelation could hinder that process, according to a league source. Johnson decided to keep Ryan as coach even after firing GM Mike Tannenbaum. The new GM will have to live with Ryan (who has two years and $6 million left on his contract) for at least a year unless Johnson has a sudden change of heart.
“Woody should fire Rex,” the league source said. “Instead, he’s forcing him on the new GM. They’re not going to get any of the top candidates because of it. No one is going to want to deal with the circus that surrounds Rex.”
An executive with another team said the bigger challenge in landing a strong candidate is going to be the fact 2013 is basically a lost year with Ryan as the coach. Many view it similar to the Bears situation where Phil Emery was hired as GM last year and was forced to keep Lovie Smith as coach for a season. Now, Emery has fired Smith and is starting over.
“The Jets situation is not the most attractive job out there,” the executive said.
The franchise is confident it will be able to convince whichever candidate it chooses the Jets are, indeed, a good destination. The organization’s pitch, however, may have gotten a little tougher yesterday.