Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan Showed How Much Giants Game Meant to Him

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan is coming under fire for putting quarterback Mark Sanchez into the 4^th quarter of Saturdays Jets-Giants game which the Jets won in overtime 24-21.

Sanchez ended up injuring his shoulder after a massive hit by massive Giants defensice tackle Marvin Austin, trying to make the team, and will undergo an MRI.

When the coach was asked why he put what will probably be his starting quarterback into the game in the fourth quarter playing with the backups and guys hoping to stick, Ryan said

“That was my decision all the way,” Ryan said. “All week you talk about winning the game and competing. That was my decision.” If it wasn’t important I would not have put him in there,” Ryan said

Under normal circumstances, you would not be putting your starting quarterback into the fourth quarter of a meaningless pre season game, but as always with the Jets, these are not normal circumstances.

Sanchez has not been named the starting quarterback. He has been in a competition with Geno Smith who probably played himself out of it with his 45.7 quarterback rating and three interceptions.

Obviously to the Ryan, who once referred to the Jets as the Giants big brother,  this “Snoopy” battle against their cross-stadium rivals was very real and when the coach saw a chance to take out the struggling rookie and put in his experienced starter who had taken them to two championship games, the guy he wanted all along, in a winnable game, he took it.

Regardless of what these teams say, this game means something. It got Giants head coach Allie Sherman fired in 1969 when his team lost the first one 37-21 to Joe Namath and the Super Bowl Champions,

With Rex Ryan on the hot seat this year, he needs whatever small victories he can get.  To the Jets, beating the Giants anytime, anyplace, is no small victory. He proved it last night.  Unfortunately for the embattled head coach, it may have backfired on him.