3
May
2011
VIDEO: Rex Ryan talks lockout, draft & more on Letterman
Everyone’s favorite NFL head coach, Rex Ryan, was on the Late Show last night to promote his new book, and host David Letterman took the opportunity to ask the controversial Jets’ coach about some burning issues in the game today … including Brett Favre’s “thing”:
25
Feb
2011
ReadAndReact at the 2011 NFL Combine (PHOTOS)
Lucas Oil Stadium prepares for the combine (Photo: TheDarkHorse)
Yep, that’s right. TheDarkHorse is in Indianapolis this week, repping R&R at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine, and getting the inside scoop on the league’s annual meat market. It’s a wonderland for fans and draftniks, with coaches, general managers and the league’s elite all gathered together in one spot to evaluate tomorrow’s stars of the game. And, somehow, we got in the building.
Unfortunately for us, TDH is a bit busy with his paying gig, but he’s promised to take tons of pictures, and report back on the minutiae of his combine experience … just as soon as he destroys Rich Eisen in the 40-yard dash. In the meantime, here are a couple of teaser pics, to whet your appetite, and to prove that we’re not talking out of our asses.
Spending some time at the feet of Rex Ryan (Photo: TheDarkHorse)
24
Jan
2011
AFC Championship Game: A Tale of Two GIFs
As we all know by now, the Pittsburgh Steelers outlasted the New York Jets in the AFC Championship Game yesterday, winning 24-19 and advancing to Super Bowl XLV. Mike Tomlin‘s crew jumped out to a dominating 24-0 first half lead, and the Steelers defense came up big when it mattered most in the second half to hold off a comeback attempt by the Jets.
Instead of breaking down the play-by-play and showing highlights of the most important moments of the game (which you’ll be able to find literally everywhere else today), we felt that these two images – lovingly captured in GIF format – summed up the emotions of both teams at the end of the day.
First, brash head coach Rex Ryan expresses his frustration after the Steelers converted a crucial third down to seal the loss for the Jets:
I threw it on the ground! (Image via InstntRply.com)
Moments later, watch Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall give Ben Roethlisberger a taste of his own medicine after taking a knee in victory formation to seal the win for Pittsburgh:
14
Jan
2011
Return of the Jet-I: Patriots vs Jets – Episode 3 (PIC)
The NY Post delivered their special preview issue of the AFC Divisional Playoff between the Jets and Patriots today, featuring the amazing cover below.
It’s the Return of the Jet-I, starring Bill Belichck as Darth Vader, Rex Ryan as Han Solo, Michelle Ryan as sexy prisoner Leia, Joe Namath as Yoda and much much more. Enjoy:
(NY Post image via Deadspin)
Gotta love Eric Mangold as the Ewok too … hilarious.
13
Jan
2011
VIDEO: Wes Welker takes subtle jab at Rex Ryan with 11 references to feet during press conference
(Image via Deadspin)
To absolutely nobody’s surprise, the build-up to Sunday’s Patriots-Jets AFC divisional playoff game has turned into a war of words this week.
The never-shy Rex Ryan kicked things early off by criticizing Tom Brady in an attempt to get inside the QBs head and deflect attention from the 45-3 beat down the Jets took at the hands of New England in Week 13. Brady had supposedly done some jawing at the Jets sideline during their most recent match-up, which Ryan and his team didn’t appreciate. It all seemed like standard operating procedure between these two AFC East rivals.
But then yesterday, Jets’ CB Antonio Cromartie took things up a notch, telling the NY Daily News that Brady is - and we’re quoting here – “an asshole. F*ck him.” And just in case he hadn’t done enough to piss off the Super Bowl favorites, Cromartie went on to declare his hatred for the entire Patriots team. It’s a classic case of a player taking his cues from the head coach, and then going a few steps further.
Which is why it also shouldn’t be surprising that Bill Belichick‘s guys have – to their credit – maintained the high road to this point. There’s clearly no benefit for the heavily favored Pats in getting baited into a trash talking contest, and you can bet that the hoody has laid down the law about such antics from his players. So Brady responded to Cromartie’s taunts by simply stating that he’d “been called worse”, and then going on to compliment the Pro Bowl cornerback.
But today, mild-mannered WR Wes Welker may have decided to enter the fray for the Patriots … and he did so in the most subtle way imaginable.
In case you missed it, there has been a cloud of controversy surrounding Ryan of late, thanks to the revelation that he shares a foot fetish with his wife. So, in what can only be interpreted as jabs at Ryan, Welker dropped ELEVEN foot references during his press conference with the media today. It’s really quite brilliant when you think about it.
Here’s the edited video of Welker’s 11 references to feet, stepping up or toes:
Well played, sir. Well played.
(full video & transcript of the press conference here)
9
Jan
2011
VIDEO: Rex Ryan’s post-game speech after defeating Indianapolis
As we all know by now, the Jets outlasted the Colts in yesterday’s AFC Wild Card game, winning 17-14 on Nick Folk’s last-second field goal. New York was helped along by Jim Caldwell’s inexplicable timeout with :29 remaining that allowed the Jets to get into better position for the game-winning 32-yard FG try.
Afterward, Rex Ryan was his usual ebullient self in the Jets locker room, and shared his excitement over finally defeating their arch nemesis Peyton Manning and the Colts. And since everyone (ourselves included) seems to loves them some Rex, we thought we’d share it with you:
Unfortunately, the Jets will meet the Patriots in the next round of the playoffs, so this celebration will likely be short-lived.
22
Dec
2010
Ummm … is this Rex Ryan and his wife in a foot fetish video?
(Image via Deadspin)
Yeah, I’d hoped we would never have to ask that question either. But the boys at Deadspin are at it again, drawing our attention to another video that could potentially cast Jets head coach Rex Ryan – and more specifically his wife Michelle - in, shall we say, an … interesting light.
The video was originally posted a few years ago by YouTube user “ihaveprettyfeet”, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Michelle Ryan. There are several videos with awesome names like “Hot Mature Feet” in which she shows off her tootsies, but this one in particular also features the voice of an off-screen cameraman who sounds an awful lot like Rex.
Check it out for yourself … don’t worry, its safe for work:
14
Dec
2010
Tripgate: Were the Jets players & coaches ordered to form a wall?
Is that how players normally stand during a punt? (CBS Image via Newsday.com)
The fallout from what is now being so creatively called “Tripgate” (ed note: Really people? It’s been 35 years since Nixon. We can’t come up with something more original by now? yeeesh) continued on Tuesday, when former Dolphins LB Zach Thomas suggested that the Jets deliberately formed a human wall on the play where Nolan Carroll was tripped by a member of the New York coaching staff. Chris Mortensen also reported that the league is investigating to determine whether the Jets were instructed to line up in that manner to restrict Carroll’s ability to use the sideline on punt coverage.
The Jets strength & conditioning coach, Sal Alosi, was suspended without pay for the remainder of the season and fined $25k by the club for tripping Carroll. He won’t receive any further punishment from the league, and will not be allowed contact with the team until after the final game of the year. Ironically enough, on game days, Alosi serves as the Jets “get back” coach, responsible for clearing players and personnel away from the action on the field.
Thomas went on Miami sports radio and said that the way the Jets players and coaches were positioned along the sidelines had to have been on purpose:
“They had to be ordered to stand there because they’re foot to foot,” Thomas said Tuesday on Miami radio station WQAM. “There’s four of them, side to side — five of them, I mean — on the edge of the coach’s zone. They’re only out there to restrict the space of the gunner.
It was actually six guys (5 inactive players plus Alosi) lined up in a row, and if you look at the tape, the way they’re positioned certainly does look a bit odd. Not to mention the fact that as Carroll comes in their direction, not one of them even flinches. On a previous Dolphins punt, Reshard Jones went flying into the Jets sideline and was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct for not immediately returning to the field of play. So you have to wonder … were the Jets purposely defending their turf over there?
8
Dec
2010
TIME WASTER: Snack Time with Rex Ryan (game)
Not much needs to be said about this online game from Taunter.com – Goddamn Snack Time with Rex Ryan – other than it’s friggin’ FANTASTIC! The goal is fairly simple – fill Rex’s cavernous belly with delicious snacks, while avoiding the healthy food falling from above. From the game site:
Coach Rex famously wanted a goddamn snack, and now you can help feed his insatiable appetite. Take the controls of the Jets lard filled leader and try to catch every fatty treat you can. Beware of healthy snacks and the efforts of your rivals who want to foil your plan at morbid obesity.
PLAY BELOW, and keep the sound up for Rex’s hilarious commentary (like you were going to do any work for the rest of the day anyway). Instructions are in-game:
ONLINE GAME AFTER THE JUMP
6
Dec
2010
As the Jets-Pats rivalry goes, there’s never been a bigger one than this
Long simmering, the feud between the Jets and Patriots is set to explode Monday night. (Source: New York Daily News)
(Ed. note: This article was originally posted last week, but with the impending Monday night match-up on everyone’s mind today, we thought it deserved another look)
________________________
The word “rivalry” is tossed around a lot in the NFL. You hear announcers, desperate for market share, describe a pedestrian Seahawks-Chiefs tilt as a rivalry. Who’s buying that? Most “rivalries” unfold without so much as a breadcrumb on the line.
The history between the New York Jets and New England Patriots is a messy, entangled war by contrast. With both franchises notched at 9-2 atop the AFC East, you have to go back to the 1990 Monday-night meeting between the 10-1 49ers vs. the 10-1 New York Giants to find a late-season prime-time bout with equal appeal.
The lifetime record between these two teams stands at 51-50-1 in New York’s favor. Records aside, the Patriots are the Goliath, having dominated the last decade with three Super Bowl wins under the leadership of a once-per-generation quarterback talent in Tom Brady.
The Jets, after years of struggle, are at the threshold — but the long-time Jets fanatic is still haunted by ghosts: “When will the other shoe drop? When will the S.O.J.s appear from behind the Wizard’s curtain?”
A season sweep over the Patriots would send a statement league-wide: These Jets are for real.
