A blabbermouth!

Rex Ryan says he and the Jets are gonna tone down all the talk this season.

Ya. Right. As Ralph Kramden would say, Ryan can't help himself. He's a blabbermouth!

Ryan said recently that he's not going to make any brash predictions this year. He's not going to talk as much trash. He began each of his first three seasons as HC of the NYJ by saying "We are winning the Super Bowl." Now it shouldn't come as a surprise any time a coach or player says they think the team will win it all. (Unless we're talking the 2012 Red Sox). Especially before the season even starts. What's the point of stepping on the field if you don't think you are going to win? It's "the promise" to win that gets people into trouble. People like Rex Ryan. Blabbermouths.

Ryan said he has realized that guaranteeing a championship may have put too much pressure on his players to back that boast up. It only took him three years to figure it out. Of course the Jets came pretty close in Ryan's first two seasons, making it to the AFC title game both years. But both times it was a matter of a slightly above average team sneaking into the playoffs and then getting hot. That's not really a recipe for long term success. Last season proved that, as Ryan's team failed to even make the playoffs, collapsing on the field and in the locker room. It was beautiful to watch.

Ryan says he has learned his lesson. Shut up and coach. Shut up and play. Problem is, when you make your name as a guy whose confidence and braggadocio are bigger than your pants size you really can't turn humble. You just look weak. That's the dilemma facing Ryan. A bully has only one thing going for him ... tough talk. Once that doesn't work he's toast. A slimmer (half of Mt. Ryan is gone) and gentler Rex Ryan doesn't work. And he knows it.

After saying he's going to coach and not talk, Ryan added "I look at myself as the best defensive coach in football."

That's right. He just can't help himself.