Next thing you know, Rex Ryan will pinky swear.
"The facts are the facts," the New York Jets coach said Friday. "I never knew."
Ryan reiterated the stance he has maintained since Sunday's Pink Floyd incident at the Meadowlands -- "The Wall," get it? -- saying he had no idea that strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi instructed inactive players to build a human wall to impede players near the sidelines on punt returns.
Questions about the "wall" came rapid-fire this week after Alosi admitted to intentionally tripping Miami Dolphin Nolan Carroll while the rookie cornerback was running up the sideline on a punt during the Jets' 10-6 loss.
"It's easy to stand up here and tell you that. I'm not a guy that lies about anything," Ryan said. "I'm speaking the truth. If that amazes people, it amazes people."
Apparently, Ryan's insistence that Alosi, fined $25,000 and suspended indefinitely by the team, acted alone in his sideline orchestration -- and without even the knowledge of special teams coach Mike Westoff -- amazed at least one person: former Baltimore coach Brian Billick, for whom Ryan served as an assistant from 1999-2007.
"Of course Rex knew about this," Billick said Thursday while appearing on ESPN's "Mike and Mike in the Morning" radio show. "Players crowding the sideline, a gunner running down the sideline, has always been an issue, and I think what you're going to see with the league is the proverbial, 'We have a rule in place -- it is going to be enforced.' "
Billick's words proved prophetic Friday when NFL executive vice president Ray Anderson sent a memo to all 32 clubs reminding them of the rules concerning bench area restrictions and movement on the sidelines.
"These longstanding rules are in place for safety purposes in order to protect players and officials on the field, members of the chain crew, as well as coaches, players and other club personnel in the bench areas," it said.
The league reminded teams that:
• All clubs must designate a "get-back" coach for games, with his responsibility to make sure players, coaches and other staff members adhere to sideline guidelines.
• Teams will be warned about violations of bench and sideline rules, but after two in-game warnings, penalties can be called, fines imposed and suspensions handed down.
• All fields are clearly marked with three areas, starting with the solid-white zone that buttresses the field of play and is designated for officials and the chain crew. A second six-foot zone, marked with a white line, is for head coaches and assistants making calls and substitutions. Everyone else on the sidelines must be out of the zone. (Note: The league included the graphic seen below, showing the areas in question]
Clearly, the Jets were in violation of at least one rule, if not both of the first two zone rules.
They won't be anymore, Ryan vowed Friday.
"Our team will be way back, I think that's pretty safe to say," Ryan said. "We will be the leaders in that."
December 17 2010 Last updated at 06:35 PM ET
Rex Ryan Denies Ordering 'Wall'; NFL Reminds Teams of Sideline Rules
By Chris Harry
Senior NFL Writer | Follow on Twitter: @ChrisH_FanHouse
Read More: Jets NFL Referees Jets+sideline+wall, nfl+sideline+rules, rex+ryan, sal+alosi, sal+alosi+trip, sal+alosi+trips+player
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Leave Rex Ryan alone. One of the best NFL coaches ever.
Rex is not a good coach. He ranks about 12 in this years active coachs. What has he ever won. You must be a 10 year kid to believe he is good. Just like his Father a Fat Big Mouth. Nothing more.
LOL
So here we go now. One jackass screws up & they take an obsolete rule to gain more control over the game itself. The NFL is no longer pro-active but far more reactive...
what has Rex ever done in his 2 or 3 years? One of the best coaches ever, that's a big statement for someone who hasn't won anything.
Leave Rex Ryan alone, can't you see he's had a tough year. He is a human being and doesn't deserve the grief that the media is throwing at him. SO LEAVE HIM ALONE, RIGHT NOW!!!!! If you want to pick on someone pick on me but leave Rexy alone. boo hoo boo whooo leave him alone
Well, I hope they CLEARLY explain this rule to Belichick, didn't he say he didn't understand the "video taping" rule after he got caught. That he didn't understand your not suppose to video tape the opposing team's defensive signals, interperate them, and then later when you face that team again watch for the signals and then relay that information to the mike inside you quarterback's helmet. I guess he just didn't understand.
hahahah patriots haters they crack me up looking for any reason to put them down even though every team in the league has taped practices but only a jets coach(fired by the pats) ratted out the Pats so it makes headlines and now its all they can talk about booohooo jets fans have a nice trip
NO KIDDING HAHAHAHA.....Pats are the best team, they have been for years now, everyone accept it your teams are sadly mediocre at best against new england....Jets SUCK and Rex Ryan Sucks....Patriots will win super bowl..END OF STORY...PEACE OUT
Yeah, let me see. Last year the Saints won the SuperBowl. the Year before that it was the Steelers. Before that it was the New York Giants (I'm sure you remember that one). The time before that it was the Colts. And before that it was the Steelers again. Yeah, the Pats did cheat their way to a win* many years ago. And since they beat the Bears all we hear now is how they've already won the SuperBowl. The Bear won't be in the SuperBowl. And I'm not a Jets fan.
Bostonfan4life,
if you are so superior to the Jets how can you explain week # 2? Jets 28 Pats 14 or your lost vs the 6-7 Browns? 38-14 Explain those games! Your Pats won a few games by 3 points just the same as we've lost a few games by 3 or fewer points. The only thing you have on us is a blowout win and a more seasoned QB so go on and ride your wave while it last.
To Coach Alosi and all Strength & Conditioning Coaches! All sideline personnel are suppose to back up and help catch players from smashing into the benches and water tables to prevent injuries from your own team as well as your opponents!This is just common good sportmanship in all sports. My head coach at John Carroll University Regis Scafe meets with all football personnel to make sure all players on both teams on our sideline during games are safe from any possible injuries to end a players career. Even our standards as Certified Strength & Conditioning Coaches in the National Strength & Conditioning Association specifically cover rules and guidelines for caring and prevention of any injuries in our profession! Our job is to keep players healthy, to extend their career's on the field!
Quit lying Rex, of course you knew about it. Zach Thomas was right - how else can you explain why Alosi wasn't fired on the spot? Wall or no wall, the intentional trip should have resulted in an immediate pink slip.
JETS ARE CHEATERS PLAIN AND SIMPLE
Thrift store,
your comment is dime a dozeen, bargain cheap!
fire that idiot
You want me on that wall! You need me on that wall! From Jack Nicholson's great movie "A Few Good Men"