Rex Ryan Is Too Nice, Needs to Be More Like Bill Belichick, According to Former NFL Player

by Doug Kyed on Sat, Dec 22, 2012 at 10:02AM

Rex Ryan had a tremendous start to his NFL head coaching career. He made the playoffs in consecutive seasons, advanced to the AFC Championship game both years and had a 20-12 record. But like many coaches that won’t discipline their players, his reign at the top didn’t last very long.

A former player of Ryan’s, defensive lineman Trevor Pryce, says the Jets’ coach is too nice for the NFL and will have to harden up like Bill Belichick before he can become a successful coach. Pryce wrote a piece for the New York Times saying that Ryan’s two biggest flaws are his loyalty and care for others.

Pryce was complimentary of Ryan, saying he is a brilliant strategist, a hard worker and one of the best human beings in the league. But Pryce noted that staying with Mark Sanchez too long, hiring a friend who knew nothing about the defensive line to coach the Jets’ defensive line and Ryan’s inability to fire Brian Schottenheimer were examples of his flaws.

Pryce does have hope for Ryan, saying that this season will likely harden him and make him more like the Belichicks of the league. If Ryan hopes to stick with the Jets, though, he may need to show a hint of that in the next two games of the season.