NFL

HOW REX ANSWERED OUR QUESTIONS

In today’s paper, The Post posed five questions that needed to be answered when the Jets introduced Rex Ryan as head coach. Now that the press conference is over, let’s see if we got the answers.

WHAT IS THE PLAN WITH BRETT FAVRE?

This was the first question Ryan fielded. He danced around it like Fred Astaire. He showed reverence for Favre, but also didn’t emphatically say he wants him back.

“I would think anybody would want him as their quarterback,” Ryan said.

GM Mike Tannenbaum told WFAN today that he’d like Favre to give the team some kind of indication on his plans by next month and the possibility of participating in opening workouts.

REX TALKING SUPER BOWL

WHY WILL RYAN MAKE A GOOD HEAD COACH?

Plenty of great assistant coaches have failed once they got the big chair. Ryan’s father, Buddy, was one of the greatest defensive coordinators in NFL history, but he failed as the head coach of the Eagles and Cardinals. What makes Rex different?

“I’m not a one-hit wonder,” Ryan said. “I think when you look at my background, I think I’ve been successful at all stops along the way. a I think there’s some consistency there, and I know the kind of responsibility it is to be a head football coach, but you’ve got the right guy. Again, I plan on proving that each week.”

WHY WERE FIRST-TIME COACHES THE TARGET OF THE SEARCH?

This question was posed to Mike Tannenbaum and Woody Johnson after the formal press conference but they did not really give a definitive answer. Tannenbaum said the criticism that he was trying to protect himself by hiring someone who wouldn’t threaten his authority was not true.

DO THE JETS HAVE THE RIGHT PERSONNEL IN PLACE?

Ryan said he believes the Jets have lots of talent. The Rams were interested in hiring Ryan to be their head coach but he made it clear to them that his first choice was the Jets. One of the big reasons is the talent level of the team.

“This is a good football team,” Ryan said. “It’s built to play the kind of style that we’re going to play. We’ve got some unique guys, some edge pass rushers, we’ve got the man in the middle right there in Kris Jenkins, and we’ve got some linebackers, got a free safety (Kerry Rhodes) that’s a ball hawk, and to me the best corner in football (Darrelle Revis). That’s a pretty good starting point right there.”

WILL BRIAN SCHOTTENHEIMER BE BACK?

Ryan announced Mike Pettine is the team’s new defensive coordinator, and that special teams coach Mike Westhoff and offensive line coach Bill Callahan will be retained. He didn’t mention Schottenheimer. When asked about the offensive coordinator, Ryan said he would talk to Schottenheimer in the next few days.

Schottenheimer is upset he was passed over for the head coaching job, something Ryan can relate to because John Harbaugh was hired by the Ravens over him last year.

“I know the disappointment he’s feeling by not getting this job,” Ryan said. “I went through the exact same process last year in Baltimore.”