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Jets' Rex: Dad, Buddy Ryan, Battling Cancer

NEW YORK (WFAN) -- Not surprisingly, Rex Ryan managed to needle the Patriots, once again, during the NFL's annual coaches breakfast on Tuesday. Then the Jets' outspoken coach delivered a true shocker to the New York Daily News.

Ryan told the paper that his father, Buddy Ryan, was diagnosed with cancer "a couple of weeks ago."

"It's going to take more than this to get rid of him," Ryan said. "That's what he always says."

According to the paper, Rex's wife, Michelle Ryan, accompanied Buddy Tuesday as he "underwent tests and received a second opinion" at Manhattan's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

"He's doing great. He's tougher than s---," said Ryan. "He's had other things in his life. He overcame encephalitis. He's overcome cancer twice. He's tough."

Ryan said his father beat melanoma in the past, but this go-round is a different type of cancer.

"It's something else. I'm not going to get into it," he said. "He's a tough old guy. He's getting a second opinion. He should be all right."

Have encouraging words for Buddy? Let them be heard in the comments below...

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