Jets Fans Offer Mixed Reactions To Firings Of Rex Ryan, GM John Idzik
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Following a disappointing 4-12 season, the Jets cleared the decks on Monday, firing general manager John Idzik and head coach Rex Ryan.
As 1010 WINS' Rebecca Granet reported, fans in Florham Park had mixed feelings about letting Ryan go.
Jets Fans Offer Mixed Reactions To Firings Of Rex Ryan, GM John Idzik
One fan, "Steven," said he would have kept the head coach, even though the Jets have missed the playoffs four straight years.
"I mean, people bought into him and he did make the AFC Championship game twice," he said.
Steven added that Rex's headline-making attitude fit Jersey nicely.
"I thought he was good for this area. And you know, he said some things that I didn't love, but he did produce those first two years," Steven said.
But "Neil," an admitted Giants fan, said he was ready to pull off a robbery for his team.
"He should be a defensive coordinator. He should come to the Giants," he said. "Great defensive coordinator, great motivator."
Jets Fans Offer Mixed Reactions To Firings Of Rex Ryan, GM John Idzik
Neil said it's not that he dislikes Rex, but that he's just not a good head coach.
"Jim," of Florham Park, said he wouldn't have fired Rex.
"I don't think Rex Ryan should be the fall guy," he said. "I think it's the manager, I think it's upstairs."
And Steve said he felt it was too early to fire Idzik.
"It's only two years, you know. You can't keep turning people over. I don't think that's a good idea either, and he came from a good program. I would have given him another year," he said.
The sidewalk and steps in front of the Jets' store off Madison Avenue were a rubble-strewn mess, under construction with the promise of a better tomorrow, WCBS 880's Paul Murnane reported.
Rick Brown said he spent the entire season thinking his Jets would eventually turn it around.
"Now we gotta start all over rebuilding, you know, bringing some new players I guess. Maybe a quarterback, some wide receivers please," he said.
Some fans said there's still light at the end of a very long tunnel.
"I would say another five more years until they're actually contenders," a Jets fan said.
During his six years with the Jets, Ryan grabbed headlines. He dropped four-letter words, was part of a bizarre foot-fetish video involving his wife, waged a public battle with his weight and LAP-BAND surgery and had to answer a million question about one of his tattoos, which depicted his wife wearing a Mark Sanchez jersey.
"There were way too many things, except football," Upper West Side resident Laura Rivera told CBS2's Dave Carlin.
Richard Auletta is a public relations and crisis management expert. He praised Ryan for putting the embarrassing headlines behind him.
"I don't think we seen the last of Rex Ryan is a coach," Auletta said. "The last half of the season he has handled himself with the dignity and grace under great pressure. He pretty much knew he was being fired."
Various media reports have suggested Ryan could end up a serious candidate for a few head coaching jobs. Three other teams fired their head coach on Monday.
If Ryan doesn't get a head coaching gig, many experts believe he will end up on television as an analyst, though not everyone sees that potential marriage working out either.
"He wanted to win a Super Bowl. The (Chicago Bears) job is open; the (Atlanta Falcons) job is open. I wouldn't be surprised if by the end of the week he says I'll go be a head coach again," WFAN host Evan Roberts said. "I'm not totally sold that Rex is going to be this great TV guy."
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