When it came to Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti's Dec. 31st firing of Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan thus quoth the raven:
"Nevermore!"
Today, Ryan was not only rehired by new Head Coach John Harbaugh, but was also promoted to assistant head coach, as well.
Rex Ryan, 45, the twin brother of on-again-off-again Oakland Raider defensive boss Rob Ryan, who is at the center of another controversy in Oaktown, has led his Raven defense to fifth, first, and sixth place finishes in total defense the last three years.
A word of caution to Harbaugh, the Ravens surprising choice for head coach: Those Ryans can be "difficult" to say the least. Buddy was embroiled in a white-hot feud with Ditka in Chicago after being passed over for the Bears head-coaching job.
Then owner George Halas was the Father in that "shotgun wedding," forcing Ditka to take Ryan.
Rob Ryan, a guy who makes Bill Belichick look snappy on the sidelines, is currently in the middle of the Al Davis-Lane "Don't call me Lance" Kiffin "situation." According to the Oakland papers, Kiffin, himself the son of a well-known defensive guru (Tampa's Monte Kiffin), wanted to fire Ryan, but was prevented from doing so by curmudgeon Al Davis.
Watch your back, Harbaugh. A first year head coach could be overwhelmed by a popular, established defensive coordinator. Cam Cameron, formerly of the 1-15 Miami Dolphins, was recently hired to run the offense. An aspiring head coach and a recently fired head coach on the staff could lead to some turf battles.
The situation could be interesting.
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