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| Author: | Cl11234566 [ Fri Dec 20, 2019 4:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | credit for the Rangers |
NEW YORK -- Rex Ryan went from the hot seat to some job security. Well, at least through the next two seasons. The New York Jets signed the popular coach to a contract extension Thursday, removing the lame duck label from Ryan and keeping him with the franchise through the 2015 season -- and possibly beyond. The team announced the extension for Ryan, who had one year remaining on his contract, but provided no further details regarding the length of the deal or financial terms. ESPN, which first reported the deal, said it is a multiyear extension that contains incentives based on playoff victories. Ryan is 4-2 in the post-season with the Jets, including consecutive trips to the AFC championship game in his first two seasons, but New York hasnt made the playoffs in three years. "I know what we all want and were striving to get there," Ryan said in a statement issued by the team. "But its not about me. Were already into our off-season planning. There are a lot of areas where we can improve and we cant wait to get this thing rolling." Ryan was retained by owner Woody Johnson for next season after his job appeared in jeopardy. Expectations were extremely low outside the team entering this season, but Ryan led the Jets to a surprising 8-8 finish that had players and fans clamouring for Johnson and general manager John Idzik to keep the coach. Johnson, who announced after the season-ending win at Miami that Ryan would be back, rewarded him with the extension and removed the spectre of him heading into next season without a contract beyond this year. Ryan is 42-38 in the regular season in his five years with the Jets. "Im no different than any of our fans," Ryan said. "Im an ordinary guy thats been given an unbelievable opportunity. Ive said all along: Im glad to be a Jet. Im happy to be a Jet. Thats never changed." Despite the extension, Ryan wouldnt necessarily be guaranteed to return after next season or 2015 if the Jets continue to miss the post-season. For now, though, the idea that Ryan could be around for at least two more seasons could help recruit free agents, and the Jets are expected to be a major player this off-season since they will be comfortably under the salary cap. It might also help Ryan with settling his coaching staff, especially after losing special teams co-ordinator Ben Kotwica to Washington and linebackers coach Brian VanGorder to Notre Dame as the schools defensive co-ordinator. Several other assistant coaches, including defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, have expiring deals. Ryan faced an uncertain future last off-season after the Jets went 6-10, but Johnson retained the coach and fired general manager Mike Tannenbaum. The team hired Idzik as general manager, with Ryan already in place, and it had been speculated that Idzik could want to hire a coach of his choice this off-season. During a news conference to wrap up the season two days after finishing 8-8, the two gushed about their working relationship. "Rex and I have worked well since I got here and have the same vision for this football team," Idzik said in a statement. "As I have stated before, he is a phenomenal teacher and motivator. We are fortunate to have him as our head coach." The Jets opened 5-4 and as one of the NFLs most surprising teams led by rookie quarterback Geno Smith heading into their bye-week break, but they set an NFL record by alternating wins and losses through their first 10 games. A three-game skid sent New York from controlling its playoff fate to barely in the post-season picture. After the Jets were eliminated, there were serious questions as to whether Ryan would be retained. But there was an uncommonly overwhelming amount of support for Ryan with fans, players and ex-players taking to social media to state their case as to why he should stay. Ryan and Idzik will now look forward to shaping next seasons team with plenty of issues to consider, starting with the quarterback situation. The Jets will have to determine whether Smith has a chance to be their quarterback of the future, and whether theyll draft another player to compete with him or sign a proven veteran. New York will likely part ways with injured quarterback Mark Sanchez and wide receiver Santonio Holmes and possibly cornerback Antonio Cromartie to save money on the salary cap, and there are several potential key free agents, including right tackle Austin Howard, right guard Willie Colon and kicker Nick Folk. Ryan now gets a chance to build off the surprising performance of his team and try to make good on that Super Bowl title he boldly guaranteed when he was hired in 2009. "The front office, coaches, players, this entire organization -- were all in this together," Idzik said. "We are all governed by the same motives and that is to build a perennial winner here with the Jets." . Whenever United loses, its crisis. When other top teams slip up, its the quirky nature of the Premier League. The predictable reaction speaks to the sky-high expectations for a team proven perennial contender and 13 times Premier League champion. . The Swiss won on the fastest run-time tiebreaker after the four-racer teams tied 2-2. Wendy Holdener and Reto Schmidiger won their final heats against Julia Mancuso and Tim Jitloff, respectively. https://www.cheaphornets.com/. Next week, hell try to add to the list. A Stanley Cup champion as a rookie, Seguin followed that up by becoming the youngest player to lead the Boston Bruins in scoring. . -- Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno was admitted to the hospital Friday for observation due to minor complications from cancer treatments, his family said. . The Detroit Tigers closer blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning Wednesday night against the Dodgers.As the New York Rangers made their run to the Stanley Cup final last spring, Martin St. Louis was their soothsayer. "It just seemed like whatever Marty was saying was kind of coming true," defenceman Ryan McDonagh said. Looking back, McDonagh said, its hard to imagine the Rangers getting so far had they not acquired the veteran winger at the trade deadline. St. Louis had been through a similar experience in 2004 winning the Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning and now gets the opportunity he didnt 10 years ago because of the lockout. "I didnt have a chance at continuity," St. Louis said as part of a promotional media tour for new NHL sponsor Crest. "This year Im looking forward to that continuity. I know we didnt win or anything, but Im looking forward to that." St. Louis gets continuity: a first training camp under coach Alain Vigneault and more time to spend with the teammates who helped support him when his mother died during the playoffs. With an off-season house in Greenwich, Conn., now his and his familys full-time home, it was a more relaxing summer not having to pick up and move in August. The Laval, Que., native has gotten more time with his family, including wife Heather whos doing Crest marketing with him. It might be safe to assume a hockey players wife has a more perfect smile than her husband. But the Rangers are a team in some flux. Gone from the Eastern Conference-champion group are defenceman Anton Stralman and forward Brian Boyle, who signed with the Lightning, and centre Brad Richards, who was bought out and went to Chicago. New York added veteran defenceman Dan Boyle, a 2010 Team Canada gold medal-winner, and grinder Tanner Glass and expect younger players to also fill some holes. "I think every teams in that situation," St. Louis said. "Its what you make of it, its how you embrace those guys, how you welcome them. You cant look at them as replacing the players you lost. You want them to be themselves and play their game, so were going to make sure that happens." St. Louis has only been around since March, when the Rangers traded captain Ryan Callahan and draft picks to Tampa Bay for him. But as the search for a new captain is on, St. Louis is among the candidates along with McDonagh, Marc Staal, Dan Girardi and Rick Nash. The 39-yearr-old said hes more worried about being a teammate than having an official leadership position.dddddddddddd "Ive had a lot of experience in this league on and off the ice, Ive been in many situations," he said. "I feel like I help my teammates regardless because I can relate to them. Ive been a guy in the minors, Ive been a guy called up, Ive been a guy scratched, Ive been a third and fourth-liner, Ive been a top player. I feel like I can relate to them and I can help them out." St. Louis has already helped plenty. Not only was he tied for second on the Rangers in post-season points with 15 (eight goals, seven assists) but teammates looked to him as a calming influence. "I love that with players that, in stressful situations theyre still calm to make the decisions and say good things," goaltender Henrik Lundqvist said. "But you still want to see the fire, you still want to see the edge and I think he has both sides of that." On the ice, St. Louis noticed practice habits that others didnt. "Theres no small play with him," McDonagh said. "If he sees something in practice that were working on on the power play or even just line rushes with his (other) winger and his centre, hes always grabbing guys, talking about what he sees and whats feeling to try to get on the same page with you and you get on the same page with him so that in a game hopefully the executions a lot better." St. Louis said the credit for the Rangers playoff run from teammates was flattering but brushed it off. "Its collectively everybody," he said. "I dont think its just me. I try to play my part as everybody thats important to the team (does), and collectively we were able to do the things that we did. I dont think it was one guy." No Stanley Cup final loser has made it back the next year since the Pittsburgh Penguins did it in 2009. Thanks to experience, St. Louis hopes the Rangers have what it takes to buck that trend. "Its so hard to repeat, its so hard to get back there," he said. "Were hoping to break that this year and get back there and not be disappointed with the result. "I know we have a lot of new guys, but you try as a team, you try to build it up and get the chemistry and get better as the year goes on and really try to hit your stride at the right time." ' ' ' |
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