THE REX BOX: Weighty Matters

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THE REX BOX: Weighty Matters

Published: Fri, July 31, 2009 - 3:59pm ET
Randy Lange

By Randy Lange

Lange is editor-in-chief of newyorkjets.com. He covered the Jets for 13 years for The Record of Hackensack, N.J.


File Under: training camp, Rex Ryan, Marques Douglas, Howard Green

07/31 — Today is Rex Ryan’s first day as an NFL head coach at training camp, and one thing on his mind — besides the Green & White — is no doubt his next solid food.

Ryan announced at the top of today’s news conference that today is also his first day on a diet.

“We’ll see how long that goes,” Rex told reporters. “You guys may want to have a bet with each other. It’s all liquid or something like that for five days. It’s going to work great. I feel good. I had oranges, lemons and all that stuff to squeeze in there. It was a great breakfast. I’m looking forward to the vegetable thing that they have for me today.”

The Jets coach said he topped out at 340 pounds and now he’s going back in “the other direction.” His target weight.

“I think around 300. ... OK, 310. I kind of figured you weren’t buying that one.”

If Ryan needs any inspiration, he doesn’t have to look farther than defensive tackle Howard Green, another player from the school of big men who has slimmed down this off-season.

“Howard Green, running with the second defense, showed what he’s all about in those 9-on-7 drills and those inside drills. That’s why he’s here. He is a big, physical presence. He used to be ‘Big Howard.’ He’s not so big anymore. I think he dropped 20 pounds or something like that, and I don’t think it’s fair to say it was like losing a deck chair on the Titanic, either. I might have put on the weight that he lost, unfortunately.”

Another motivational ploy may also be to involve Jets fans in a new charity.

“You could ask [Marques] Douglas and some of these older guys that have been with me,” he said. “Every year I used to get the weight up a little bit and then my kid would play on a travel baseball team. So to raise money, I would have to lose 30 pounds. So this is not new for me.”

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Fans Respond

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Ira Said:

Fri, July 31, 2009 - 8:23pm ET

"Green is a big man and i thought he moved very well in those drills today. Seems ealy on the Jets have a good depth at the NT spot with Green and Pouha playing behind KJ."

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Mark99 Said:

Sat, August 1, 2009 - 5:54am ET

"I saw Ryan's press conference yesterday, and all I can say is, Good for you. I'm with you coach. I'm close to your weight, and if you can lose it, I'll give it a shot too. Anyone else?"

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Bucks County Jeff Said:

Sat, August 1, 2009 - 7:20am ET

"Ira, your optimism never fails to amaze me. Pouha? Really? He has done nothing to establish himself as a legit NFL Player. You are the same guy that was throwing bouquets to Kenyon Coleman in the preseason last year. Have a good time at camp.....but keep it real."

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