Rex Ryan: 10 Reasons His Trash Talking Is Fantastic for the NFL

So Rex Ryan has done it again.

He's once again taken the New York Jets to the AFC Championship Game despite never appearing in a home playoff game yet during his tenure. He's brash, arrogant and not afraid to speak his mind.

And so far, he's been a winner.

You may not agree with his tactics or what he has to say (and I doubt the NFL does sometimes), but he's shown to be one of the few coaches that can talk smack and back it up. And with an entire week heading up to the AFC Title Game against the Steelers, you can be sure that Ryan will say something eventually that will raise eyebrows.

So with that in mind, here are the 10 reasons why his trash talk is good for the NFL.

10. Press Conferences Are Appointment Television

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 02: Head coach Rex Ryan and Nick Folk #2 of the New York Jets celebrate with fans after they defeated the Buffalo Bills 38 to 7 at New Meadowlands Stadium on January 2, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bell

Be honest, how many of you would willfully watch a mid-week press conference from an NFL head coach? But with Ryan, who's dressed up like his brother and made it "personal" each of the last two weeks, you're all somewhat on the edge of your seats waiting for what Ryan will do next. Very few coaches have been able to do that better.

9. Either Love Him Or Hate Him

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: New England Patriots fans hold up signs picturing head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets and a foot prior to their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by

No matter what you think of him, if you like the NFL, you probably have an opinion. And in a league that seems like it would love the hockey culture of just spitting out cliches to the media, Ryan is a larger-than-life figure that's brought energy and passion to the playoffs when most coaches are trying not to create bulletin board material.

8. A Jet Fan's Nirvana

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Fans of the New York Jets hold up signs in support of their team and head coach Rex Ryan against the Indianapolis Colts during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 8, 2011 in Indianapolis, I

For most of their existence, the Jets have been a mediocre franchise, and even when they were doing well, fans always had the feeling that it wouldn't last. For a franchise that hasn't been to the Super Bowl in more than four decades, that's a lot of baggage. But Ryan not only has his team believing, he has his fans believing. And that's not easy for a Jets fan who's used to disappointment.

7. The Man Can Coach

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets watches as his team takes on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Regardless of what you might think of him, the man is a pretty good coach. His aggressive defense was a big reason why the Jets won last week, and while the offense is still inconsistent, when it clicks, it flows pretty well. Ryan's built a winner right now in New York, and considering it's the Jets that's pretty impressive.

6. The Jets Are Relevant

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets looks on during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Imag

As big as the NFL has become, somewhere deep inside the subconscious of every league executive, they like it when the biggest market is involved and excited about football. They like it when the New York teams are relevant, and Ryan has made the Jets relevant on a national stage. Between Hard Knocks and the press conferences, Ryan has successfully marketed the Jets in his tenure the way a college coach markets his program.

5. He's a Player's Coach

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Head coach Rex Ryan and James Ihedigbo #44 of the New York Jets look on from the sideline during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massach

We hear that a lot these days, a player's coach. But what does it really mean? I think we're starting to see what it means with Ryan. His Jets have taken on the personality of himself: brash, tough and confident. The players love him and love to play for him. That must be the case, or why else would Giants Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips say they want Tom Coughlin to be more like Ryan?

4. Ryan Knows the Media

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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 06: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets walks on the field for the start of their game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 6, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Ryan might be the first coach in a while who's embraced the media and knows how to use it for his advantage. The local media loves him and the soundbites he gives, and Hard Knocks was appointment television this past summer. Even in the offseason, Ryan has found ways to get his team in the news, and if you notice, the Jets have dominated the back pages in New York this season.

3. The Man Has Personality

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DETROIT - NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Rex Ryan and Josh Mauga #53 of the New York Jets celebrate a 23-20 ovetime win over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on November 7, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. The Jets defeated the Lions 23-20 in overtime. (Photo by Leon

Too many times in this league, we have coaches like Bill Belichick and others who, while great coaches, have the personality of a cardboard box. Ryan is interesting, charismatic, passionate and not afraid to poke fun at himself. In a league that's cluttered with cliches and nothingness (just ask the writers who have to talk to Andy Reid every week), Ryan tells it like it is and that's refreshing.

2. The Numbers Are Skyrocketing

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DENVER - OCTOBER 17: Head coach Rex Ryan the New York Jets celebrates a penalty call against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on October 17, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

I mentioned earlier how Ryan is a polarizing figure. And while the NFL may not like the things that he says, people sure want to see him. The television numbers for the NFL playoffs have been through the roof this season, and like them or not, people want to see the Jets. They may want to see them lose, but they still want to watch. 

1. People Love To Watch Rex Ryan

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 19: New York Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan talks to Santonio Holmes #10 before their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 19, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Images)

The NFL announced on its website that the Jets-Colts playoff game had the highest ratings since the NFL started primetime Wild Card games back in 2002. That should be enough evidence that despite how much people can't stand Ryan and the Jets, they want to watch them.

Ryan is one of those personalities that people love to watch, and as much as the NFL likes to stifle them, they also like it when it brings eyeballs to the screen and has more people watching the NFL. The NFL won't stifle Ryan because it now knows what people want to watch, and as we all know, the NFL is all about the fans (wink, wink).