Rex Ryan Predicts Super Bowl Win For Jets

The NFL offseason has barely started and Rex Ryan has put the pressure on himself and the New York Jets already. Rex and his wife Michelle were taking in a Knicks game last night and Rex predicted a Super Bowl win for the Jets while he expressed his disappointment with the loss in the AFC championship for the second straight year.

"It feeds the competitiveness in you," Ryan said. "You're sick that you missed out again, two years in a row. I know how important it us to this town and our fans, and how important it is to me, this football team. To come up short again, it's a huge blow. "But you do remember. It drives your competitive spirit, like there's no way, no way we don't get it done next year. That's how you feel. That's how I feel. You can't wait to get back and have at it again."



Hey, if you don't have confidence in yourself who will. That's why I like Rex. He has confidence in his team and the team feeds off of it. The Jets had their share of off field stories and the beat goes on with the Mark Sanchez story. But Ryan doesn't see it as a problem.

"Not everybody can play quarterback in this town," Ryan said. "It takes a special person, and Mark can do it. He's proved that he can do it. He's focused and determined. Some guys would wilt under the pressure of New York, of being in the city. But Mark looks forward to it. "You've got to have broad shoulders, he has broad shoulders. I always talk about skin like an armadillo—though I know it's armor, but that's the illustration we make to our guys. He's a great player, a great person, and he can handle this."


Rex has everyone's back on that team and they love him for it. I'm sure he may ruffle a few feathers every now and then but deep down they know short of committing murder or rape, he'll go to bat for them. I'm pretty sure they don't mind him going on record saying they'll win it all. That's what you play the game for and if your not then you shouldn't be playing.



  






"You've got to have broad shoulders, he has broad shoulders. I always talk about skin like an armadillo—though I know it's armor, but that's the illustration we make to our guys. He's a great player, a great person, and he can handle this."














   

Clay Matthews Laying The "Smackdown"

Here's some footage of Clay Matthews' appearance on WWE Smackdown.

The Angry Mailman

Karl Malone says that Jerry Sloan would never quit anything. I believe that because Sloan was a tough, old man. Malone said the only thing Sloan was tired of was the garbage that came with the job.

I was caught way off guard when I heard that Sloan was resigning. He had been in Utah for 23 years and showed no signs of quitting. He was tough and he was old school. I believe his old school ways clashed with his new school players, specifically point guard Deron Williams. Williams says he didn't run Sloan out of town, which I do believe. I also think his attitude might've grated on Sloan so much that he just flat out got tired of it.

Malone says he will honor Sloan's legacy by becoming a coach himself. For some reason I don't see Malone as the coaching type but you never know. Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Isiah Thomas all coached at one point.  

Mr. Smith Goes To The Hall Of Fame

New York Jets wide reciever Brad Smith will be one of six inductees into the University of Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame. Not to knock Smith's athletic endeavors, but this will be the only Hall of Fame he'll get to. Nonetheless, it's a remarkable acheivment for Smith, who'll do plenty more athletically than I'll ever do.

Smith had a very good career as a quarterback for Missouri. He broke 69 school, Big 12 and NCAA records while leading the Tigers. Smith was also the first quarterback in Division I-A to throw for more than 8,000 yards and run for more than 4,000 yards and finished his career fourth in total offense with 13,088 yards. He also won a Heisman and a national championship for me on the Playstation. I just had to throw that in there because he was unstoppable in that game.

I hate the fact that Smith never got a shot at quarterback in the NFL. But he has a career, so I don't feel too bad for him.

The Clay Matthews Tour

To the victor goes the spoils. That's what they say. The Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl and Clay Matthews seems to be loving it. Matthews has a little victory tour going on. There was Jay Leno, then WWE Smackdown, Ellen Degeneres. Next stop the Grammys.

Matthews will be presenting an award at the upcoming Grammy awards ceremony. There is no word on what category he'll be presenting in. I might watch just to see who he gives an award to. I wonder where the next stop will be on the Clay Matthews victory tour.

Nolan Smith May Be The Most Underrated Player In College Basketball

If you've read any of my previous postings that mention Duke basketball, you'll know that I pretty much despise the program. So when I decided to retire for the night last night and saw North Carolina up on Duke at the half by 14, I thought maybe the Heels will get them at home. I went to bed with a slight smirk on my face.

Much to my surprise, well maybe not, Duke came back for a 79-73 win led by Nolan Smith's 34 points. A great showing in his final home against their blood rival. Another thought came to my mind when I saw the score and highlights. Nolan Smith is underrated. I know Duke gets a lot of publicity and when they get a player that doesn't live up to the hype, that player still gets a ton of hype. But Smith has somehow seemed to be under the radar for sometime now. I feel that if it wasn't for Smith Duke might not have won the national championship last year. let alone compete for it. Sure they had Jon Scheyer for 12 years and Kyle Singler always got the hype, but Smith has been a solid player since he's been there.

When the year began all you heard was how Duke had an improved backcourt with Seth Curry and Kyrie Irving coming in.You hear about the incoming McDonald's All Americans, but not much about Smith. In fact the Irving one and done machine was in full effect until he had a foot injury. If there is no Nolan Smith this might be a team that would have about 5 or 6 losses. I'm not saying they're not good, they wouldn't be as good. You didn't hear Smith's name on many player of the year lists. Now he's getting that kind of recognition. To me he's Duke's most important player, just ask Baylor. He has an insatiable will to win and won't let them lose. As much as I don't like Duke, I do have respect for Nolan Smith and his game. 

The Knicks Would Be Wise To Wait On Melo

I was talking with one of my co-workers yesterday and we were talking about the neverending Carmelo Anthony rumors. More specifically about the Lakers trade rumor. The question was why the New York Knicks were trying so hard to land Anthony. I can understand the Lakers trying to pry him out of Denver. They could bridge the gap between Kobe Bryant's eventual decline and pass the torch to Melo. I can dig it. The Knicks, not so much.

I read a post from a fellow blogger whose site name escapes me right now where he put together a three team trade involving the Lakers, Nuggets, and Knicks where all three help themselves in the process. It's too much to explain so please excuse me for not breaking it down. My problem rests with New York. Melo wants to be there and the Knicks want him. It's a match. Everyone knows why Anthony wants to get out of Denver as soon as possible. It's simple, he wants to get paid before the new CBA (collective bargaining agreement). I can understand that. He'll only sign an extension with the Knicks. If I'm Donnie Walsh I just wait until the offseason to sign him and give up nothing. I know the Knicks want out of Eddy Curry's contract and can get rid of it in a trade. But why give up Wilson Chandler or Danilo Gallinari? I know the Knicks would like to get rid of Anthony Randolph, which would be good because maybe they recoup a first round pick in the process. Getting rid of Randolph makes the most sense since there is a logjam at his current position. I wouldn't be in a hurry to include Chandler or Gallinari. They've shown me something this year and if Melo comes to New York one of them would be a major player off the bench, something you always need in the NBA. The Knicks would also boast one of the better frontlines in the league.

I don't see why the Knicks are in such a to make this trade. I would wait to sign him and not give up a thing. I just don't see why they would want to give up a few core young players to get one in return. It's not like they would be a threat to win the title this year with him.The only way I make this trade is if this is the first step in some kind of master plan where the Knicks somehow get Chris Paul out of the Bayou or some other major player. Other than that, save your chips and play them elsewhere. It may get you more than you think.