It's well known around the NFL that New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan talks a big game. According to the players around the league though, that's all it is---talk.
According to a player poll taken at midseason by the Sporting News, Ryan was named the most overrated coach, followed by New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid.
"Rex Ryan. His coaching style is over the top. Some of the things he does in front of the cameras are way over the top. You put that with the New York media and he has a pretty big reputation, I guess," said an anonymous AFC offensive player about Ryan to the Sporting News.
The magazine polled 103 players from 27 different teams. Ryan received 35 votes, while Belichick received 16 and Reid received nine.
"I don't even know if you'd call him overrated anymore because it's gonna be a couple of years since he was in the AFC finals. He's pretty funny, and he's a pretty good coach. But not THAT good," said the player.
Mike Shanahan of the Washington Redskins followed Reid with eight votes, while Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had four. Jeff Fisher, Jim Harbaugh and Norv Turner got three votes each, while Pete Carroll, Jason Garrett and John Harbaugh received two votes each.
Six other coaches received one vote each.
In a poll by Sports Illustrated a few weeks ago, Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez were voted as the top two overrated players in the NFL. By pure math or by opinion of the players at least, the New York Jets are the most overrated team in sports.
At the time, Tebow said to the New York Daily News: " "Oh, really? No, I didn't see it. Yeah, it's really fine. It's both sides, because they also voted me in the Top 100 (Players on NFL Network), too."
In that poll Tebow was voted the most overrated with 34 percent, while Sanchez was tied for second with Dallas quarterback Tony Romo with eight percent.
Although Ryan made it to two AFC Championship games in his first two seasons, recently he has been known more for controversy and a good quote rather than winning football games.
The Jets missed the playoffs last season after going 8-8 and are at risks of falling short again this year. The team is only 3-5 after getting beat by the Miami Dolphins last Sunday and are tied for last place in the AFC East with the Buffalo Bills.
Ryan's inability to make it to the Super Bowl or win a championship has only been magnified by the New York Giants, who share the same building as the Jets and won the Super Bowl last year.
This season the Jets are dealing with a range of injuries to key players, including to All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis and wide receiver Santonio Holmes. Even though the team has a losing record it is still mathematically in a good spot for a wild-card berth considering how weak the AFC is this season.
The Jets haven't won a championship since Super Bowl III and haven't made the playoffs since 2010.