Rex Ryan interviewed for the Chargers head coaching job in 2007 after the team fired Marty Schottenheimer. G.M. A.J. Smith decided to hire Norv Turner instead. During a conference call with the San Diego media Wednesday, Ryan said the Chargers made the wrong move.
“Well, I think I would have had a couple rings,” Ryan said when asked about how things would have unfolded if he were hired by the Chargers. “I’m telling you, those teams were loaded.”
Rex called Norv to clarify his comments. A Jets spokesman said Ryan’s comments were meant more as a compliment to what the Chargers have built. Unsurprisingly, Norv was unamused.
“I was wondering if he’s had the rings with the team he’s been guaranteeing,” Norv reportedly told reporters Wednesday, in response to Rex’s comments. Marty Caswell of Double X Sports in San Diego adds that Turner was not pleased with Rex’s remarks.
Why would he be? Rex just said that he would have done more with the Chargers if he were their head coach.
It’s hard to argue with him.
San Diego has had tons of talent. They reached the AFC title game in Norv’s first year but lost to the Patriots. In 2009, Ryan’s Jets beat Turner’s Chargers to reach the AFC Championship Game. Rex may have come up short on his Super Bowl predictions, but I believe his teams have overachieved with him as coach. The contrary is true for the Chargers.
