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Thank goodness Rex Ryan is still an NFL head coach

Frank Schwab
·NFL writer

I don't get anyone who doesn't like Rex Ryan. He's tremendous for the NFL.

The problem that has developed over the years is that players and coaches get criticized for being interesting. Say something outside of the most white-bread quotes and it's a bad thing. So the NFL is full of robots. Why is that better for anyone? Isn't the game supposed to entertain us?

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Ryan has never cared about the backlash against being himself, and thankfully his time with the New York Jets didn't change him. When he was introduced as the Buffalo Bills' new head coach on Wednesday, he was at his cocksure best.

"Put everything you want to our opponents, put everything want on your bulletin board, that’s fine," Ryan said. "The Bills say they’re a physical football team, the Bills say they’re going to outprepare you, we’ll outwork you and that stuff. Go ahead and put it up there. I don’t care where you are. Because we’re not afraid of it."

He's perfect for Buffalo, especially now.

The Bills haven't made the playoffs since 1999, the longest drought in the NFL. After the season coach Doug Marrone simply opted out of his contract, and it's clear now he had no job guaranteed for him when he decided to do so. He still hasn't landed a job. He decided he would rather walk away with $4 million, thanks to a clause in his contract, than actually coach the Bills. What a low point for the franchise, which deserves better.

Buffalo wasn't viewed as the most attractive destination among the NFL openings. Ryan interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers, who are widely considered better destinations.

Ryan said the Bills were the team he wanted. He wants to be here and he expects to win. Buffalo had to perk up hearing that. Oh, and that playoff drought?

"I’m not going to let our fans down," Ryan said. "I’m not going to do that. I know it has been 15 years since the Bills made the playoffs. Well get ready man, we’re going. We’re going."

Maybe the Bills needed this, the don't-give-a-care coach of the NFL coming in and telling everyone that things are changing, starting now. Here's what Bills running back C.J. Spiller thought:

This is why many players say they love playing for Ryan. Here were some more gems from a pretty fun press conference:

- On the defense: "Fourth in the league is probably a little disappointing to be honest with you. That’s not where my expectations are. I know we’ll lead the league in defense. That’s just the way it goes."

- On Bills owner Terry Pegula: "As Terry likes to say, ‘We have one ego.’ I go, ‘Yes sir, that’s exactly right.’ When he hired me, that ego got a little bigger."

- On playing tough: "We’re going to build a bully and we’re going to see if you want to play us for 60 minutes."

- On playing the Patriots: "We’re going to into every game, we expect to win period. Regardless of who we play. If they want to bring back Russ Francis and John Hannah to play guard, we’ll play them too."

- On his press conferences: "As you guys get to know me, I’m going to have fun with these. I’m going to enjoy it. I don’t take myself too seriously. But what I do take seriously is the product you’re going to see on the field."

Ryan saved one of his best lines as a shot at Marrone, who left the Bills holding the bag at the end of the season.

"This football team deserves a loyal coach," Ryan said. "Nobody is more loyal than me as a football coach, I can tell you that."

 

Does Ryan's bravado in an introductory press conference matter? Maybe. It can't hurt give his players and the fan base some much needed confidence. A coach predicting his team will make the playoffs isn't bad. Everyone in the NFL should think that, and what's the harm in saying it?

Whatever happens from here on out in Buffalo, it's certain that things are going to get a lot more interesting there. That's a great thing.

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!