Buddy Takes a Spin on 'Two-Minute Drive'

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Buddy Takes a Spin on 'Two-Minute Drive'

Published: Tue, January 27, 2009 - 6:18pm 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: Philadelphia Eagles, Rex Ryan, ", Chicago Bears, Rob Ryan, Buddy Ryan

01/27 — It was an honor today for Eric Allen and me to do a short "Jets Two-Minute Drive" radio interview with Buddy Ryan, father of the new head coach of the Green & White.

Buddy's mellowed just a little from his days as the fiery defensive genius of the Chicago Bears of the Eighties and the Philadelphia Eagles of the Nineties — not surprising, since next month he'll turn 75 years old.

But he's still bullish on the chances of Rex taking the Jets to places they haven't been recently, he said he'll be around the Atlantic Health Training Center "when it gets a little warmer, around minicamp."

And he talked about the quarterhorses he's raised for a long time. One of his 2-year-olds is named Blitz To Win. Also not surprising.

We chatted with Buddy about the start of his pro coaching career, from 1968-75 as the Jets' DL coach, but I didn't ask him about the only game he was a head coach against the Jets.

That was late in the 1987 strike season, when the Jets started 6-5, which was good enough to contend in the tightly packed AFC East race and the conference wild card standings. But the Jets swooned down the stretch with road losses to Miami and New England, then a 38-27 loss to Ryan's 5-9 Eagles at the Meadowlands and a season-ending "road" loss to the Giants to finish 6-9.

The Jets had taken a 17-10 lead over the Birds, only to be done in by Randall Cunningham's two second-quarter TD strikes to Mike Quick and a third to now broadcaster, then rookie WR Cris Carter. Also in the mix was a short TD run by future Jets jack-of-all-trades Keith Byars.

Our conversation with Buddy Ryan, father of the 46 Defense, not to mention Rex and Rob, is available on newyorkjets.com now.

 

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Drew Said:

Sat, January 31, 2009 - 1:39pm ET

"Youre right Ex JEt......Your posts have continually proven that your football knowledge is superior to mine.....lol. I was a Mangini guy just like I am a Rex guy now. I will support my coach no matter what. I dont jump off the bandwagon after a bad season like some fans do. "

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mrmagoo Said:

Sat, January 31, 2009 - 5:20pm ET

"I really got to laugh reading some of these posts. Look around the league,...brett was getting creamed because of no protection. Yet all these so called fans are calling for his head. This year when clemmons comes on and starts all these so called fans will be calling for his head,..get real,..get some wr's that can get open,..use a screen once in awhile and you will see a much better offense."

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Tom Spicer Said:

Mon, February 2, 2009 - 9:32am ET

"Schotty did not use Keller or Leon enough during the last 5 games & Jenkins was a ghost the last 6 games but everyone puts the blame on Favre bottom line everyone stunk football is a team game "

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