The New York Jets have missed out on more free agents than they have signed this offseason. The team was able to land top wide receiver Eric Decker and re-sign Willie Colon, but other than that, they have been lacking. The team has plenty of needs on both sides of the ball, but has failed to land their top targets. After hearing reports that he was angry over the lack of aggressiveness in free agency, Rex Ryan is denying any kind of feud with general manager John Idzik.
Ryan's angry likely comes from missing out on several players. The team failed to execute the return of Darrelle Revis. When the cornerback was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Jets immediately jumped into negotiations with their former star, but the New England Patriots won out in the end. New York tried for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and failed. They also missed the opportunity to bring back Antonio Cromartie. Ryan was not happy, but he says that has nothing to do with Idzik.
"I'm an emotional guy," Ryan said, via ProFootballTalk.com. "I take it personally when somebody doesn't sign with us, and they were in the building and chose to go somewhere else. I'm upset with that player or that individual. But I've never been upset with John. Sometimes you swing and you miss, and sometimes guys aren't a good fit for you. But when a player signs somewhere else, he's - you know that old saying, 'He's dead to me' - that's pretty much it."
Ryan stresses that he and Idzik are on the same page when it comes to free agent. The head coach who is essentially coaching for his job this season, says he has full faith in the team's roster, especially at the cornerback position. Revis, Rodgers-Cromartie or Cromartie would have been an upgrade over the players the Jets are left with. Dee Milliner struggled as a rookie. Kyle Wilson was forgettable. Ryan says that everyone will rise to the occasion in 2014.
I feel really good about our corners," Ryan said. "Obviously Dee Milliner, he's a young man that we had a lot of high expectations for, and he started to fulfill those expectations later in the year. We kind of predicted that he would go through some growing pains and then come out of it and that's exactly what he did. . . . Obviously we have Kyle Wilson who has been in that nickel role for us for a while."
After likely signing quarterback Michael Vick and possibly adding a wide receiver, the Jets appear done until the NFL Draft. Ryan will continue to put out fires like this during the offseason. He cannot afford a slip up while working on a one-year deal.
