Jets Coach Rex Ryan Denies Report That He Wants Out

Rex Ryan, the New York Jets head coach, said today at a press conference that he’s “mad as a hornet” about a published report that he wants to be fired by team owner Woody Johnson if big changes aren’t made. He called the report “total garbage.”

The New York Daily News published the following report on Rex Ryan’s future with the Jets this morning:

The Daily News has learned that Ryan, the swashbuckling point man who dominated the headlines for the past four seasons, has intimated to “anyone who will listen” that he would be better off getting fired if Johnson isn’t willing to rectify player personnel and coaching issues on offense, according to sources …

” ‘If Woody’s not willing to do what it takes to fix the team, then (Ryan) knows he’s better off being fired,’ a team source said. ‘If Woody is willing to eat some money and spend to get us out of this mess, then it’s worth staying.’ “

At this morning’s press conference, Ryan said that while it’s been a rough season for the 6-9 NFL team, he is proud to be a Jet and doesn’t want to coach anywhere else, and wants to coach the squad for the next 15 years. This is the job he’s always wanted, he insisted, and that “there’s no bigger Jet than me.” After the news broke, Ryan said he called Woody Johnson to tell him the story was nonsense. “No way in heck I’m not putting an ultimatum to this man that hired me,” Ryan said.

Ryan’s current contract runs for two more year. He would collect his $6 million even if he got fired.

On WFAN radio this afternoon, host Mike Francesa claimed that the Daily News reporter’s inside source is Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, who recently turned down a contract extension.

Watch Rex Ryan’s press conference here.

Do you believe that Coach Rex Ryan is “100% committed” to the Jets?

[Image credit: Marianne O’Leary]