In the raucous visiting locker room inside Sun Life Stadium, after Jets players had their prayers answered when owner Woody Johnson announced coach Rex Ryan would return, general manager John Idzik roared: “This is our coach!”
But the news Ryan has been rewarded with a “multi-year” Rextension for overachieving with a rebuilding team and rookie quarterback doesn’t guarantee Idzik won’t be introducing Ryan’s replacement after the 2014 season with a more reserved, “This is our coach.” Or more specifically: “This is my coach.”
Johnson and Idzik did the right thing by keeping Ryan for the kind of continuity and stability inherent in winning organizations, and they did the right thing bolstering him publicly by not trotting him out for the 2014 season as the lamest of ducks.
But here’s the advice for Ryan just the same:
Don’t buy, rent.
And here’s some more advice: Aside from adding receivers who can scare anyone other than Jets fans, you better find yourself a quarterback, either through free agency or the draft, just in case Geno Smith doesn’t prove to be the answer.
This is, on the surface, a win-win compromise for both sides, but it is more of a win for the ownership-management side if Ryan is not guaranteed anything beyond 2015.
It is the kind of thing often done for cosmetic purposes — allowing Ryan one last chance to parlay his good fortune into something more lasting and profitable with a playoff-incentives trigger, and it stems the tide of assistant coach defections (see Ben Kotwica, Redskins) and anxiety over boarding a potential Titanic.
The numbers on the check might have changed for Ryan, but the game remains the same:
It is playoffs or bust for him. For the first time. As well it should be.
If, toward the end of next season, it becomes clear the Jets will not make the playoffs for the fourth straight year on Ryan’s watch, then the “word on the street” about his imminent firing will be loud enough for everyone to hear, not just him.
In a league where impatience is such the Browns can fire a Rob Chudzinski after one failed season, in an organization where the general manager has yet to hire his first head coach, you do not get to play the rebuilding card again, even if parting would be such sweet sorrow for the owner, whose legs turn to jelly whenever Ryan starts talking about his players proudly wearing their Jets gear around town.
In essence, Johnson and Idzik have hedged their bets, a smart play given the uncertainty over whether Ryan and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg can develop Smith, or a would-be challenger, quickly enough to challenge Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. They understandably can’t go all-in on a coach who deserved his Stay of Rexecution, but is 22-26 over his past three seasons.
It will be interesting to see how much input Ryan will have now in personnel procurement, because it still is entirely possible Idzik will be picking players for the next Jets coach.
This buys Idzik another year to survey the bright, young offensive assistant coaching landscape now that he has seemingly ingratiated himself with the owner by agreeing to keep his Favorite Son.
So the Jets remain married to Ryan, but he should recognize this much: It is hardly one of those ’til-death-do-us-part deals. This is their coach … for 2014.