Rex Ryan Tugs On Super Manning's Cape

The playoff game this Saturday between the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts just got 'personal' and Jets head coach, and alleged foot fancier, Rex Ryan is zeroing in on Colts QB Peyton Manning.   Last year's crushing de-feet (it's just too easy) to the Colts in the AFC Championship Game must have left a lasting footprint in the sand of Ryan's mind.  He is, plain and simple, tired of losing to the Colts.

Ryan ranted yesterday about his track record (he has lost 5 of 6) against the Colts going back to his Baltimore Raven days as a defensive coach.  The brash coach called playing and losing to Manning "personal" and he vowed to "put the shoe on the other foot."  Considering the recent foot fetish video allegedly made by Ryan and his wife making the rounds, it was an unfortunate choice of words.

Wasn't it just last week that the once blustery coach was quietly saying (six times) it was  'personal'  in response to all the questions regarded the foot videos.  Now Ryan is back to his old outrageous self.  If it seems illogical to  goad your arch-nemesis right before the big showdown, you don't know Ryan.  Until the whole foot thing happened, there wasn't a microphone he wouldn't run to.

This might be the right time for Ryan to play Lex Luthor against Peyton's Superman.  While Manning has scorched Ryan's defenses for 12 TDs and only 2 INTs in six games previous games, this year Ryan finally has a better team.

To avoid another loss to Indianapolis, the Jets traded for San Diego cornerback, and Manning's kryptonite, Antonio Cromartie.  The former Charger joins Darelle Revis to form a formidable pair in the corners to foil the Colts short passing game.  They also brought in safety Brodney Pool and former Dolphin foe Jason Taylor.  The Gang Greens all here to stop Supermanning.

"I've waited a full year for this.  We'll see what happens," Ryan said of Saturday's rematch.  "I know I feel confident.  I feel confident in the men around me," he said. 

Ryan kept ratcheting up the heat.  "I don't know when I'm going to beat him, but I want it to be Saturday night," continued Ryan in his best villain imitation, " Peyton Manning has beaten me twice in the playoffs.  That's well-documented.  You've got all the stats.  But this is about this year, and I've waited a whole year for this."

The Jets are facing a Colts team which has won four straight after a series of injuries to key players (17 place on the injured reserve) had people writing them off a month ago.  This is the team's ninth consecutive playoff appearance but, for the first time they look vulnerable. 

Two of Manning's favorite targets, Dallas Clark and Austin Collie, are sidelined and the running game has picked up with the return of Joseph Addai but it won't have the Jets running in fear.  Manning has been winging the ball like no other season before.  He attempted a staggering 679 passes but was only sacked an amazing league-low 16 times.

Manning hasn't responded to Ryan's chatter, but he is still the master at countering blitzing schemes like Ryan's.  In the end, Peyton Manning and the Colts will be trying to prove they are worthy too.

Ryan's outburst was relatively tame to some of his other raves in the past. Some say it calls attention to himself and puts pressure on the Jets players.  Ryan's rant doesn't guarantee that the Jets will rise to the occasion or the defense will figure Manning out.  It is a war cry for the redemption he craves and diverts attention from the foot-fetish hoopla.  'Personal' has a totally new context with Ryan now.

The Giants are out of the playoffs.  The Jets are the only football team in New York.  If Ryan can beat the Colts on Saturday, it will be quite a feet.  I couldn't resist.