By Jeremy Fuchs
Full disclosure: I'm a Giants fan. I run a Giants blog. And I really dislike the Jets.
I was rooting for the Colts, mostly to hear the whining on talk radio from Jets fans. You can give me the "But, it's a New York team!" argument, but I don't buy it. Mets fans were only rooting for the Yanks in the World Series because they hate the Phillies. As a Yankee fan, I would root for the Mets only if they were playing the Red Sox.
But I digress.
There's an appeal to Rex Ryan. He has a brilliant defensive mind and larger than life personality. Here's my problem: He talks too much, talks a big game. In my mind, you have to win something to talk. You have to win a Super Bowl, not get to the AFC Championship game. Call me old school, but I believe you have to earn it to talk. It may fire up the fans, but talk is cheap. Play the game. (Yes, I know I stole that from Tom Coughlin. I am a Giants fan, after all.)
I like Ryan. I do. I think he's one of best defensive minds in the game. I think the Jets are set up for a lot of long playoff runs in the future. I think Mark Sanchez is a stud. But, I need to see it first before I can hear it from Rex. I need to see a Super Bowl ring on his finger before he can talk. If he gets one, talk all you want. I'd have no problem with that. But, he doesn't have one. If anything, the talk just fires up the opposing team. Sure seemed to fire up the Colts, didn't it?
Ryan's antics (scheduling the parade on the playoff itinerary, etc.) are fun to talk about. He gets the crowd fired up. He's a fan favorite. But, for me, he needs to win before he can talk. He needs to get it done on the field, before he can talk off of it. You may disagree. You may also be a Jet fan. That's okay. I won't hold it against you.
I just believe that winning talks louder than any outlandish statements.
Jeremy Fuchs is a constant contributor to this blog and always a voice of reason (or so he believes :). Please follow him on Twitter @jaf78
Heathcott hitting leadoff for second spring game
8 years ago
I can understand where you're coming from, espicailly being a Giants fan. One of my best friends is a Pats fan and he can't stand to hear Rex either. On the other hand, and yes I'm a big Jets fan, I say TURN IT UP! Yes his talk is good to fire up the crowd or fire up the fans because it gets me fired up, but I think it's a change that was needed around the Jets team. Everyone likes a little trash talk in football and when I hear Rex, I hear confidence. One thing that stuck in my mind all season was when he brought up the quote by Ray Robinson, “To become a champion, you have to believe in yourself when nobody else will.”
ReplyDelete