The Buffalo Bills put a beating on the New York Jets last week and former Bills coach Rex Ryan took aim at current Jets head man Robert Saleh on Monday.
Saleh was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers the past few seasons. His defense in New York has been the worst in the league, allowing a league-worst 32.9 points per game and 145 points in the last four games.
Ryan slammed Saleh during an ESPN radio interview.
“This guy is supposed to be a defensive guru,” Ryan said. “I take it personal. Everything I heard was this guy is a lot like myself, but without the bad part. Some of the bad part you need, because this team doesn’t want to play with any damn heart. That’s the thing that is disappointing to me. Don’t ever compare this Robert Saleh guy to me.”
Ryan also earned his shot to be a head coach based off years of success as a defensive coordinator in Baltimore. The son of the legendary Buddy Ryan, Rex won a Super Bowl with the Ravens back in 2000 when he was the team’s defensive line coach. But as a head coach, with stops in New York and Buffalo, he couldn’t get his career record above .500 (61-66). That’s a big reason why he’s on TV talking about football these days.
But that didn’t stop him from going at Saleh, who’s undeniably struggling in his first year on the job as the Jets sit at 2-7 and are last in the AFC East.
“Statistically, one time they were a top defense (while Saleh was in San Francisco). Four out of five times they were dead last in their division,” Ryan said. “They are going to be dead last again, so he’s going to be used to that. To me, I am little pissed off about it when I heard his background is a lot like yours. No, it isn’t. No, it isn’t.”
Saleh was asked about Ryan’s comments during a radio appearance on The Michael Kay Show.
“I’ve never met Rex,” he said. “I’ve never had a conversation with Rex. I don’t even know him except for people who know him throughout the league. Obviously, if it’s that personal for him, he knows where to find me. … (But) I’m not surprised by him. He’s always got something to say.”
The Jets lost against the Bills last Sunday, 45-17, and the game wasn’t even that close. New York scored two fourth-quarter touchdown to make it seem a little less of an embarrassment. Josh Allen threw for 366 yards and a couple touchdowns, and the Bills defense intercepted Mike White four times and forced a fumble in a masterpiece of a performance.
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