Archives for November 12, 2015

'You don’t allow a Rex Ryan to march into your building and beat you.'

'Jets 30, Bills 21.'

'"We're trying to win two games in four days. It's not facing him, it's facing the Bills,'' Bowles said Sunday after a 28-23 win over the Jaguars. "They're a division rival and we're trying to win the game.'''

'This game is all about Rex, and so is his team. Just like the Jets, who reveled in his refreshingly humorous and candid demeanor in the early days, riding the wave to two AFC title games before his roster — and his act — began to wear thin.'

'According to TiqIQ.com, the average asking price as of Wednesday morning was $131.09, the least expensive Jets home game of the season and the third-cheapest Jets home game in MetLife history. The lowest asking price Wednesday morning was $38.'

'Whaley has control over the 53-man roster and Ryan has control over the 46-man game-day roster. This has led to some interesting decisions. Whaley cut loose fan favorite running back Fred Jackson, and some in the organization weren't thrilled about it. And of course, Whaley traded away quarterback Matt Cassel—who was once competing for the No. 1 job—to the Dallas Cowboys, even though Cassel was the No. 2 ahead of EJ Manuel. That move backfired, with Manuel going 0-2 as the starter when Tyrod Taylor went down, including a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Time will tell if this power balance can last.'

'The Jets can take a step closer to that goal with a victory on Thursday night. Jets fans probably will remember this: The Rex Ryan Show was far less funny when his team loses a game.'

'The reporters who cover the Bills recognized the seriousness of this situation. They asked Fitzpatrick for his response when they had a chance to talk to him later Tuesday. Let history show that the Bills reporters understand what's important.'

'The Bills had lost three out of four games before thumping the Dolphins last week to even their record at 4-4. But Ryan doesn’t pine for .500 results and doesn’t act like a .500 coach. Even if his bio suggests that’s exactly what he is. After taking the Jets to two AFC title games, his act seemed to have worn on the media and the masses, his blowhard refrain clouding his judgement and cloaking his real record.'

'"Obviously both teams are trying to get to the playoffs," Ryan said. "It's been a long time for both franchises and we're a game behind the Jets. So this is absolutely huge. It would be a gigantic win."'

'Brash. Bold. Real. Controversial. Lovable. Outspoken. Obnoxious. Annoying. Silly. Fun.'

'"You know I know we got a huge game in front of us, and that's really where my focus is gonna be," said Ryan, whose Bills are 4-4, one game behind the Jets in the AFC East standings, but barely within sight of unbeaten division leader New England (8-0).'

'Receiver Sammy Watkins (left ankle) and defensive end Mario Williams (calf) are listed as probable.'

'All that ultimately matters to Ryan's Buffalo Bills and the Jets, however, is trying to build on their respective much-needed victories in Thursday night's matchup at the Meadowlands.'

'And although he acknowledges the storyline, his return to New York is not what matters, according to Ryan. “We are both gunning for the same thing. That is what makes it special,” he said. “The fact that, you know I get it, I used to coach there and all that stuff. I get all that stuff. To me it hasn’t, and I know you guys don’t believe me, but it has not entered my mind yet about all those other things. I am not going to say it is not a special game because it is. Based on the fact that this is an opponent that we are going for the same thing. We want to do everything in our power to win this game. But it has not for any other reason, personal reasons or anything else. It is all personal to us. We want to win this game to better our chances of making the playoffs. That is all we want.”'