Bob Raissman: With Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum, ESPN has a Jets problem

Having already established themselves arsenic portion of the process, which ended with Aaron Glenn being selected the caller Jets caput coach, what does the aboriginal clasp for ESPN’s Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum?

The struggle of interest, attached to Tom Brady, Fox’s No. 1 NFL expert and portion proprietor of the Las Vegas Raiders, volition stay an issue, adjacent during Super Bowl week, erstwhile an overflow media assemblage successful New Orleans engages successful a hopeless scramble for content.

When it comes to the NFL’s pecking order, Ryan and Tannenbaum are mode down the stature database making the likelihood of their issues being exposed again slim. That, and the information ESPN suits, astatine slightest publicly, don’t deliberation either antheral did thing wrong.

Buy that schoolhouse of thought if you privation to, but what is Ryan, who utilized ESPN’s aggregate platforms arsenic self-promotional vehicles (”I’m the champion feline for the job. It ain’t close, spot me”) going to accidental if Glenn’s Jets get disconnected to an 0-3 start?

“I told you I was the champion antheral for the Jets job,” Ryan mightiness boast. “They went successful different absorption and are present paying the price.” But would anyone judge what helium has to accidental knowing Ryan has an ax to grind due to the fact that helium coveted the Jets job? All helium got was 1 interview.

Jan. 8, 2025: Bring Rexy back

New York Daily News

Back leafage for Jan. 8, 2025: As promised, erstwhile manager interviews for his aged job. Fans loved Rex Ryan and helium loved coaching Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship Games, truthful Tuesday, with squad fallen connected hard times, Ryan sits down with his aged bosses to sermon a instrumentality to Gang Green.

And what if the other happens? What if Glenn’s Jets get disconnected accelerated 3-0 start? Knowing Ryan said (multiple times) that helium was the “only” antheral for the job, could helium bring himself to springiness Glenn the recognition helium deserves? And if Ryan doesn’t, it volition lone travel disconnected arsenic sour grapes damaging his and ESPN’s credibility.

For Tannenbaum, ESPN’s in-house GM, this is astir business. His “The 33rd Team” acted arsenic a paid consultant assisting Woody Johnson successful the organization’s extended hunt for a caller manager and wide manager (Darren Mougey).

If the Glenn authorities is not successful, Tannenbaum volition beryllium straight linked to its failure. If the Jets get disconnected to a palmy commencement the flip broadside is existent — Tannenbaum tin instrumentality credit.

But if the results are mixed, volition Tannenbaum beryllium perceived arsenic thing much than different conflicted ESPN expert cutting the Jets slack, due to the fact that helium hand-picked Glenn? And if the results are bad, volition Tannenbaum, connected an ESPN show, spin, saying the caller Jets strategy needs much clip to jell?

While Tannenbaum’s TV ngo is to bring world to his analysis, it’s hard envisioning him, adjacent if deserved, trashing the Jets. Or the mode Glenn is moving the team.

For each intents and purposes Tannenbaum would beryllium ripping himself, his company, and the process “The 33rd Team” utilized to prime Glenn. And it would beryllium the longest of shots to spot that benignant of honorable self-analysis really travel to fruition.

SAD TO SEE GREENY GO

It was unfortunate but not unexpected erstwhile Mike Greenberg called it a time connected Monday, finishing his tally arsenic big of the ESPN Radio programme “Greeny.”

Greenberg vows to instrumentality to the mean someday, which would beryllium welcomed. As overmuch arsenic the vigor manufacture is successful turmoil, modulation and cost-cutting, determination is inactive thing compelling erstwhile a Talkie similar Greenberg delivers a bold, archetypal sentiment without resorting to inexpensive tricks.

Even amended erstwhile Greenberg, whose different ESPN assignments constricted his vigor appearances, issued a proclamation earlier taking unrecorded telephone calls from those successful statement oregon listeners who hated the commentary.

DON’T LISTEN TO TIKI

Tiki Barber, a Talkie who doubles arsenic a web (CBS) shot analyst, precocious delivered media “lessons” to Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt, Fox’s No.1 NFL broadcast team.

WFAN’s Barber said the duo should support each snarky Giants-Saquon Barkley references retired of their upcoming Super Bowl telecast.

“I deliberation it’s been played retired and if they are thing different than tone-deaf, they volition get it,” Barber said connected WFAN,

Tone-deaf?

Barber indispensable person forgotten astir the millions of casual fans who volition tune into the Super Bowl, having nary thought however Barkley got from the Giants to Philly. The Fox voices person an work to archer that story.

And if they privation to enactment a humorous twist to the tale, that seems to offend Barber, good that’s called entertainment. Isn’t that what a Supe telecast should beryllium each about?

Tone-deaf? Hardly.

RAISE A GLASS …

Saturday (Michigan State vs. Rutgers) was a bully time for CBS’ Bill Raftery. He was capable to marque Ian (The Bird) Eagle squirm.

Raf enactment Eagle connected the spot asking his Buffalo-K.C. AFC title crippled pick. The Bird was not landing connected that wire. He ignored Raf’s question.

Raf would aboriginal spell connected to uncover his favourite subordinate successful the state — “Zach Martini,” for evident reasons. Eagle was not going to beryllium denied. When the Rutgers grad pupil missed a shot, Eagle, chirped: “Martini, connected the rocks.”

You conscionable can’t get this benignant of brilliance connected NBA telecasts.

AROUND THE DIAL

It wasn’t what Nate Burleson said. It was however helium said it. On CBS’  AFC title crippled postgame show, the erstwhile wideout and versatile TV personality, had immoderate prime words for those fans “suffering” from Chiefs fatigue. “And conscionable beryllium blessed that you are live to beryllium determination to spot it,” Burleson said. Unfortunately, Burleson was talking down to his audience, immoderate who mightiness situation to disagree with him. In those fewer seconds the usually likeable Burleson became precise haughty. … The CW has a coagulated ACC hoops pairing successful Thom Brennaman and Mike Gminski. Watching Boston College vs. North Carolina, Gminski’s wit and penetration was connected afloat display. And Brennaman got the astir retired of it. … St. John’s manager Rick Pitino indispensable beryllium a large friend. Or person a batch of clip connected his hands. Pitino enactment successful the enactment to merchandise a video connected X pleading with Kentucky fans to springiness a lukewarm invited to Arkansas manager John Calipari erstwhile helium returns to his erstwhile home, Rupp Arena, this play to play the Wildcats. “Show him what respect and admiration is each about,” Pitino urged. The artist, formerly known arsenic Slick Rick, was booed erstwhile helium returned to Rupp arsenic Louisville’s manager successful 2001.

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DUDE OF THE WEEK: NICK SIRIANNI

Changing attitudes. That’s what the Eagles manager is doing. A twelvemonth ago, helium was being roasted successful Philadelphia connected a regular basis. This week he’s starring his squad to New Orleans to play Kansas City successful Super Bowl LIX. Will a triumph yet gain him immoderate respect?

DWEEB: STEVE PIKIELL

Entering this season, determination were sky-high hopes and arsenic overmuch optimism arsenic immoderate different squad successful the country. With 2 aboriginal NBA draught picks, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey connected board, the Rutgers manager had each the ingredients for greatness. Now, they volition person to scuffle to marque the Big 10 tournament.

DOUBLE TALK

What Saquon Barkley said: “The imagination wasn’t conscionable getting determination [the Super Bowl]. The imagination was astir winning it.”

What Saquon Barkley meant to say: “I would similar to convey the Giants enactment for making this each possible.”