New York Jets might still fire Rex Ryan before 2014 season

Yesterday afternoon, when he list of coaches likely on their way out was being assembled, one of the names a lot of people had on that list basically from the start of the season was New york Jets head coach Rex Ryan. But after the Jets won their season finale against the Cleveland Browns, owner Woody Johnson gave Rex Ryan his vote of confidence and said that a return in 2014 was going to happen for Ryan.

But NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said on the network’s ‘The Aftermath’ show that just because Rex Ryan has  gotten the vote of confidence now, that doesn’t mean he’s not going to be fired if things change in the coming weeks.

Rapoport cites changes that general manager John Idzik wants Rex to make to his defensive staff as a possible weak link in the chain holding up Ryan’s future with the Jets. If Ryan, who’s defensive staff is his pride and joy in New York, doesn’t want to make the proper changes to the staff, that could result in the Jets parting ways with their head coach.

Another ‘prong’, as Rapoport put it, is a long-term extension that Ryan wants and that Idzik is hesitant to give. Ryan is entering the final year of his deal with the Jets and wants more than just a one year extension with the team. The changes to the defensive staff is the real thing to watch here as it appears that the Jets are allowing Ryan to stay as head coach but he must repent by firing some of his guys on defense first.

Rex Ryan isn’t stupid and will likely decide to fire people rather than be fired, but the drama concerning his job apparently isn’t over, even if a vote of confidence has already come down from ownership.