Bill Cowher rips Rex Ryan for making ‘mockery’ of NFL captains

Rex Ryan made headlines by naming IK Enemkpali a captain for the Buffalo Bills’ game against the New York Jets on Thursday night, a move that many viewed as a troll job. Though it elicited some laughs from the fans and media, one person who did not find the decision too funny was Bill Cowher.

The former Super Bowl-winning head coach believes Ryan is making a “mockery” of what is a sacred honor among football teams.

“The captain tag is something that every head coach in this league takes seriously,” Cowher said on NFL Network before Thursday’s Bills-Jets game. “The captain tag is something that players vote on, head coaches they give their title to. It requires a player that you think exemplifies leadership. You earn that. Rex Ryan has made a mockery of it and to me it’s annoying.

“I’m just saying that to put that out there. It’s not always about Rex. Everything isn’t about Rex. You used the platform to talk about Clemson. What does that got to do with this game? The game is being played by players on the field. It’s not about him. It’s about the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets playing for a game that’s got playoff implications. Again players like him, media loves him — that element of that bothers me.”

This has been the same story with Rex all along. Some people find his antics cute and funny, and I certainly have been in that boat. I’ve felt that the guy takes his job seriously but not himself nor dealing with the media. He keeps it light.

But by naming Richie Incognito a captain against the Dolphins and Enemkpali the same against the Jets, Ryan is sending a message that he endorses what those guys did (bully a teammate and punch one, respectively). It’s one thing to sign a player and give him a second chance, but it’s another to make a joke of their past actions, which is what Rex is doing, and something Cowher disapproves of.