NFL

New Jets GM Idzik is the anti-Rex

MEET THE NEW GUY: New Jets general manager John Idzik, being introduced yesterday in Florham Park, N.J., could spell trouble for head coach Rex Ryan (inset), who will be working for a GM who did not hire him. (Jeff Zelevansky (2))

New Jets general manager John Idzik stood yesterday in the same spot where four years ago Rex Ryan predicted his meeting with Barack Obama.

Ryan’s bluster that day was a breath of fresh air for an organization that had been buttoned up when Eric Mangini was around. Owner Woody Johnson beamed as his new head coach won the press conference with his humor, bravado and larger-than-life personality.

Four years and countless controversies later, the luster of Ryan has worn off for Johnson. That was never more evident than listening to Idzik give non-answers and vanilla quotes yesterday. He stressed actions more than words.

Simply put: The Jets have hired the anti-Rex.

It is clear now Johnson’s general manager search was about finding an adult to counterbalance Ryan. According to a source, Johnson let it be known he wanted someone who had not worked with Ryan before. He wanted someone to rein his head coach in and begin dismantling the Big Top the Jets had become.

Idzik said he did not buy the perception out there the Jets organization is a circus.

“I don’t sense dysfunction or anything like that,” he said.

Give it time.

Idzik spent his 30-minute press conference avoiding answering questions on the roster from cornerback Darrelle Revis to quarterback Mark Sanchez. He defended his resumé, saying he has more personnel experience than he has been given credit for. The 52-year-old came across as a nice man who appears clueless about what he just got himself into.

Idzik takes over a team that has salary cap problems, instability at quarterback and now an unhappy star player with Revis upset about trade rumors. But that is not the biggest challenge Idzik faces. No, that is the slimmed-down coach he inherits.

Ryan has two years left on his contract and is owed $6 million. The money could be the only reason Johnson spared him when he fired his former partner Mike Tannenbaum last month. Ryan was on his best behavior yesterday, echoing Idzik’s points and keeping his comments low key.

Ryan is a football lifer who knows how this works. When a football team makes a new hire, that new hire likes to bring in his people. Bill Parcells used to bring “Parcells Guys” with him at each stop.

Familiarity eases the transition. New general managers like to hire their coach. Lovie Smith went 10-6 with the Bears and got axed by GM Phil Emery after spending one year together.

The 2013 season is make or break for Ryan, no matter how much Johnson loves the coach. Ryan said he is not worried about his long-term future with the Jets, but he is intent on showing Idzik he is the right man for the job.

“Right now, I’m going to be the best coach that he’s seen,” Ryan said. “That’s the way I’m going to look at it. I’m excited about that because it energizes me.”

Idzik and Ryan are the Jets’ new odd couple. It could be a yin-yang complementary relationship or it could end in a messy divorce.

The buzzword in Florham Park yesterday was “collaborative.” For the Jets’ sake, Ryan and Idzik better be able to collaborate or that trip to the Rose Garden will remain a figment of Ryan’s imagination.