This might be the understatement of the year...Rex Ryan likes to talk...Possibly as much as he likes to eat. I think it's a toss up. The Jets head coach isn't shy about making bold proclamations, which has endeared him to the fan base, and earned him scorn from the opposition. Ryan is the lightning rod for a franchise that consistently made headlines this off-season with high profile additions, an extended holdout by their best player, and to cap it off, a training camp in front of the cameras on the HBO series Hard Knocks.
Along the way, Ryan has predicted a Super Bowl Championship. And come February, if he's holding the Vince Lombardi trophy, he can flip the bird to all his detractors and say, "I knew it all along." But it's a long road to Dallas, and if the Jets don't deliver, it'll be a very cold winter for Ryan who'll be looked upon as just another fat guy with a big mouth. In other words, talk is cheap. It's time to find out if there's any substance behind one of the most over hyped teams in recent memory.
There's no denying this Jets roster does have some sizzle. They added what appears to be a rejuvenated LaDainian Tomlinson to the backfield, traded for talented but troubled receiver Santonio Holmes and cornerback Antonio Cromartie, brought in safety Brodney Pool, and even picked up renowned Jets hater Jason Taylor. But there are as many questions as there are answers.
Second year quarterback Mark Sanchez has been shaky at best this pre-season. This off a rookie year in which he threw for 20-interceptions. The team released 9-time pro bowl offensive guard Alan Faneca, and replaced him with the underwhelming Matt Slauson. Chemistry could also be an issue. With all that star power comes a number of big egos. When the games count you have to wonder if they'll all be pulling in the same direction. So in the end Rex Ryan can make all brash statements he wants, but if the team doesn't back him up with wins, J-E-T-S will stand for Just Empty Talk Stupid.
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