Rex Ryan has not coached against Bill Belichick since 2016 but he clearly still feels the bitter rivalry in his bones.
With the Patriots holding a disastrous 2-9 record and persistent rumors Belichick is on the hot seat, he has not toned down his act, spending last week acting like whether Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe would be starting at quarterback was a state secret to which ordinary citizens need not be privy.
Ryan, speaking on ESPN’s “Get Up” on Monday after the Patriots lost to the Giants, was tired of the act.
“Can I just say this: Bill Belichick, please stop. Just name your dang starter,” Ryan said, as covered by Awful Announcing. “It doesn’t matter, they both stink. Whether it’s Zappe or Peashooter Jones, we don’t care. They stink. Just go ahead and save the drama. Like we care about your team. Your team stinks.”
Ryan — who coached opposite Belichick in the AFC East with the Jets and later Bills — was of the belief that Tom Brady deserved outsized credit for the six Super Bowls won by New England with Brady and Belichick.
“This team plays like they’re exhausted,” Ryan continued.
“And the Patriot Way, that’s it, it exhausts these kids. Tom Brady was the only reason you won anyway, alright? I’m just telling you the difference…I said they would never win again when that guy trotted down to Tampa…because I know how draining it is to those kids.
“And, that is what you’re facing right now. You pick all the players, you do all this. Bill Belichick — greatest in history — I will never dispute that, OK? I had my ass kicked by him a million times. But if you think for a minute that it wasn’t about Tom Brady, you’re absolutely crazy.”
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