Robert Saleh would be an underdog in a war of words with Rex Ryan, but that didn’t stop the current Jets coach from taking on his predecessor Monday.
Saleh, in an appearance on “The Michael Kay Show” on ESPN Radio, fired back at Ryan, who had been critical of Saleh earlier in the day on the same station.
“I’ve never met Rex. 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,” Saleh said on the radio show.
Ryan, who is now an ESPN talking head, ripped into Saleh and anyone who compared him to Ryan, who coached the Jets from 2009-14 and guided them to two AFC Championship games.
“I’m not surprised by him. He’s always got something to say,” Saleh said.
Ryan criticized Saleh after the Jets lost 45-17 on Sunday to the Bills, their third loss in the last four weeks when they gave up 45 points or more.
Robert Saleh responded to Rex Ryan’s criticism from earlier Monday. Robert Sabo; Bill Kostroun“This guy is supposed to be a defensive guru. I take it personal. Everything I heard was this guy is a lot like myself, but without the bad part,” Ryan said in an interview on ESPN Radio earlier in the day. “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. Statistically, one time they were a top defense. Four out of five times they were dead last in their division. 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 might have some backup in a battle with Ryan. David Saleh, Robert’s brother, shot back at Ryan on Twitter.
“Rex Ryan took over a good Mangini roster. Won with it the 1st 2 years and lost with his own roster every year after,” David Saleh tweeted. “The only person making comparisons is you in an effort to stay relevant. Stick to podiatry and eating cheese burgers clown!
Ryan is just the latest opponent for Saleh, who is 2-7 in his first year as Jets coach. His team is floundering, particularly on defense. Saleh was asked what his message would be to the team’s frustrated fan base and he promised a turnaround is coming.
“I’m just as frustrated as everybody else and my promise to Jets fan is this thing is going to flip,” Saleh said in a Zoom call with reporters. “The support obviously is always warranted. The criticism is always warranted, and you reap what you sow, but this thing’s going to flip. I know in my heart this thing’s going to flip. Sometimes you go through struggles to see glory and I know that’s going to be one of those things that we get to experience.”
He reiterated his message later in the call, “This thing is going to turn, and when it does, it’s going to be freakin’ awesome.”
Jets fans are running out of patience after five straight losing seasons and 10 years without a playoff appearance. Ryan was the coach the last time the Jets made the playoffs, and Saleh is the third head coach since Ryan was fired in 2014.
The Jets’ defense is dead last in the NFL in yards allowed and points allowed and is on pace to be the worst defense in team history. Saleh made his reputation as the defensive coordinator with the 49ers, but he allows defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to call the defense here. Saleh said he is still not considering taking over the defensive play-calling.
“We’re Year 1 in the system,” Saleh said. “Ulbrich and his staff are trying to figure this out just as well as the players are. They’re going to hit a groove, too. Am I there to assist? Absolutely. Do I sit in on meetings? Absolutely. Is play-calling going to change anything? It’s not going to change anything. It’s execution.”
