The world is painfully aware that Rex Ryan has a tattoo of his wife wearing a Mark Sanchez jersey. But midway through the news conference to wrap up the Jets’ 2012 season, you kept expecting owner Woody Johnson to roll up his sleeve and reveal his own new tat.
Of Rex Ryan.
Because this was an epic love fest between an owner and his head coach Tuesday, both in words and body language. Johnson spent most of the 40 minutes gazing over his right shoulder at Ryan and nodding his approval, looking a bit like a teenager with a crush.
"I fervently believe he has a natural ability as a leader," Johnson said, who even used the word "sophisticated" to describe his head coach. The owner seemed stunned when asked if he considered firing Ryan after this 6-10 season, which even Ryan said he feared.
Accountability? Put it this way: We should all have somebody like Johnson handle our year-end reviews. Ryan blasted himself for not imprinting his philosophy on the offense, a stunning admission that he essentially has failed to reach half of his team over the past four years.
The response from Johnson, paraphrased: Isn’t it just dreamy that my coach can admit his shortcomings?
So this was more than a vote of confidence. This was a statement about who’s calling the shots in Florham Park, complete with everything but a contract extension (and you wondered why Johnson stopped short of that, since Ryan has just two years left on his deal).
Forget the idea that Ryan is in trouble when the Jets get around to hiring a new general manager, which has been the prevailing wisdom since Mike Tannenbaum lost his job. It is the new GM who should be worried. How could any candidate for the job watch this news conference and not think he’ll be answering to Ryan, not the other way around?
Johnson revealed that not only will Ryan be part of the process to select his new "boss" over the coming weeks, but that the selection of players would be a "collaborate process" between the coach and GM, with the latter having the final say.
Getting along with Ryan isn’t just a prerequisite for the new hire. Other than a few clichés about leading his franchise in the right direction, it was the only requirement for the job Johnson was willing to reveal.
"Whoever we selected (as general manager), it’s very important that he have a very good relationship with Rex," Johnson said. "Which I’m sure he will. This is what general managers — this is their job."
Actually, most GMs see it as their job to hire the head coach, which is what made it appear that Ryan was on thin ice. That was before Johnson made it clear that he adores Ryan as much as he did the day he hired him four years ago.
There was one telling moment when the two men were asked a pointed question about Sanchez’s future. Ryan quickly answered first, keeping with the day’s refrain that no decisions on player personnel would be made until the team hired a new offensive coordinator.
Then everyone in the room looked at Johnson, awaiting his answer. After a few awkward seconds of silence, he leaned forward into the microphone and added, "I concur."
That summed up the show: Ryan promising changes, Johnson nodding in agreement. Johnson has always been a dry-erase board of an NFL owner, and now Ryan is the one holding all the markers.
So the owner may have retained the firm Korn/Ferry to handle the search for the new general manager, but it’s clear the choice will come from the offices of Ryan, Ryan and Ryan — and that’s a dangerous development. Johnson was right to keep Ryan as his head coach, to weigh the disappointment of his fourth season against the successes during his first two.
But the Jets need a strong general manager to revamp this roster, not a partnership. Ryan can design a defense and, the last three games of this season notwithstanding, can rally a football team. He has shown little skill in evaluating talent, which helped contribute to Tannenbaum’s demise.
Ryan has not earned the right to wield power like a Bill Belichick figure in this franchise. He has not, to borrow the words of Bill Parcells, earned the right to pick the groceries — or, for that matter, pick the man who will pick the groceries.
Only in the bizarre world that the Jets occupy will he get that chance. Somehow, Ryan has emerged from this terrible season more powerful than ever. He’ll be the one who charts this team’s new offensive philosophy — the third in as many years — and the one guiding Johnson as he picks a new GM.
The Jets are promising big changes, but the owner is still as smitten with his head coach as the day he hired him. Woody hearts Rex. It’s not quite as permanent as a tattoo, but it sure feels close.
NJ.com has free mobile phone apps for Giants, Jets and Rutgers football. Download today for iPhone or Android.