Mike Vaccaro

Mike Vaccaro

NFL

Under fire, Rex still has public support

Here is the unique thing about the passion play that surrounds the Jets Sunday afternoon in Miami: usually, when it’s time for a coach to go — especially around here — the actual firing is the easy part. Or at least the humane part; by the time a coach or a manager is called into the owner’s office and asked to bring his playbook, he already has been whacked in the court of public opinion.

There are exceptions, yes: it’s unlikely anyone was ever truly filled with enough angst to yell “Fire Yogi!” during any of Yogi Berra’s three tenures managing the New York baseball teams. Willis Reed probably could have lasted another year with the Knicks before his standing as an all-time beloved would have completely eroded. Buck Showalter, in 1995, was probably the latest popular manager whose popularity was ignored by his boss, at a time when George Steinbrenner still seemed to rule the Yankees by spite.

And, of course, there was Billy Martin, whose first resignation in 1978 was followed by a poll in this newspaper in which 99 percent of the respondents — that isn’t a typo, it really was 99 percent — said that whatever had befallen the Yankees that year it was someone else’s fault, either Reggie Jackson or Steinbrenner. That, though, is counterbalanced by the fact with each new firing, four more in all, his job approval rating was lower and lower. By the end, it was all schtick, no anger.

Which brings us to Rex Ryan.

A year ago at this time, if the ax had fallen, Ryan would have fallen under the swollen category of a New York coach who had his time, had his moments, taken a few mighty swings, and simply faded away — and with the full support of the angry fans. That’s a crowded list. Davey Johnson’s on there, and Jim Fassel. You want to go back a bit there’s Joe McCarthy and Casey Stengel. There’s Allie Sherman.

Ryan had descended into that most frustrating coaching place: a losing situation that used to be a winning situation but had begun to spiral helplessly, hopelessly out of control. Jets fans were simply tired of the Jets at this time last year, tired of the players, of the general manager, of the owner. And the coach. When Woody Johnson brought Rex back after last season, it was met with derision by a sizable portion of the fan base.

And then a funny thing happened.

Maybe it’s a mirage, or camouflage. Maybe it’s the fact he toned down his act. Or maybe it’s just the fact Ryan seemed to grow into the job more this year than he had in any of his prior four, even the two that ended in the AFC title game. It helped him that nobody saw the Jets winning more than four or five games. But somehow, in the course of winning seven and losing eight, there has grown around the Jets — and Ryan — a sense that he has done one of the better jobs in the NFL this year, that his team overachieved, that his players still play for him.

There wasn’t one “Fire Ryan” chant at MetLife this year.

Not one “Rex Must Go!”

Usually these things are organic. John Tortorella lost the fans long before he lost his owner. So did Isiah Thomas. So did Willie Randolph, and Eric Mangini, and Joe Walton, and Dan Reeves. So do just about everyone. Even Joe Torre, at the end, though he never heard derisive chants, there did seem to be an overwhelming sense that maybe a new voice wouldn’t be so bad.

Rex? Maybe it is time for a new voice, a new outlook, a new strategy. Maybe that’s the right call, but it just doesn’t sound like a revolution is brewing if Woody Johnson should decide to stay the course.

Vac Whacks

At a time when we too often wonder if sports stars really care as much as we do, it’s probably right to ponder Brook Lopez, playing at least a portion of a game on a broken foot, and Tony Romo, playing however long he played with back pain that would bend most of us in two.

If the Giants win and finish the season on a 7-3 run in their final 10, it’s important not to read too much into that. But it’s probably also important not to read too little into it, too.

Clearly the next step for the NBA after those ridiculous Christmas Day sleeve jerseys is to have a full day of games where everybody plays shirts and skins.

Another year where you see Don Mattingly’s name on a Hall of Fame ballot, and another year where you wish his back would have left him alone for just another two or three years or so.

Whack back at Vac

Bruce Welsch: Can someone tell me what J.R. Smith does to deserve his 35 minutes a game? Is it his 30 percent shooting and terrible shot selection? Anyone else would be benched. I don’t get it.

VAC: Why not look on the bright side? There’s only 3 ½ years left of his contract.

Wendell Raney: Kevin Garnett missing layups with the Nets is Willie Mays falling down in the outfield for the Mets. Stayed a year to long …

VAC: Garnett is proof that just because the heart is willing, sometimes the body is an unwilling dance partner.

@CouchPotatoCop: Is it safe to say there won’t be a Kevin Youkilis “Yankeeography?”

@MikeVacc: I think we can expect one of those soon after the three-part special, “Pedro Feliciano: the Pinstripe Years.”

Bob Leise: Considering the current state of New York sports I might just as well live in Cleveland.

VAC: At this rate, if the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were in New York, it wouldn’t have elected any new members this year.