Storm brewing

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

There's some rough weather bearing down on New York City. Not Hurricane Sandy. I'm talking about the media storm that is about to engulf Rex Ryan and his J-E-T-S ... Jets Jets Jets.

It was about two weeks ago that Skinny Rex stated "We know we're going to beat the Patriots and I want them to know that we know." The Jets have lost two straight division games since that boast. He will never learn. The Jets played a heck of a game in Gillette but came up short in overtime. It was a very tough loss. But not as tough as yesterday's 30-9 thrashing at the hands of the Miami Dolphins ... in the new Meadowlands. In front of the home crowd. Take a look at the Jets' fan above. He doesn't look like he enjoyed his Sunday as much as I did.

The Jets have lost five games and we're only halfway through the season. That is a recipe for a second straight playoff miss for Skinny Rex. And if that happens, the greatest defensive head coach in the game may find himself becoming the greatest defensive ex-head coach in the game.

At his post-game press conference Ryan looked ready to cry. The not-so-big guy said he was shocked by his team's awful performance. The calls for Tebow have now hit critical mass even though he missed a block on punt coverage that led to a blocked kick. Mark Sanchez looks like he is just about done in New York. He threw another bad pick yesterday. The team looked disorganized and unmotivated ... much as they did during their season ending implosion last year. The "fire Ryan" stories have already begun.

I've said before that the trouble with a loudmouth for a head coach is that it only works when you are winning. Then he can be the cocky, funny, know-it-all. Problem is, if the loudmouth's team starts to lose then his boasting looks ridiculous. He looks like Nero as his team burns. And when his team completely collapses -- as the Jets did last year and are on the verge of doing again -- the loudmouth just looks like Biff after he was smashed in the mouth by McFly. Done.

That's why Belichick is the same win or lose. It's the smart thing to do.

That's Ryan's problem now. All the tough talk is worthless if his team goes out and gets whipped. As Ryan stood on the podium yesterday looking defeated, I kind of missed the bigger, brasher Rex raising a fist in the air and guaranteeing that his 3-5 Jets were still going to win the Super Bowl. He's not only not as big as he used to be, he's not as defiant too. And not as fun. Is it because his team is a mess or because he's not as big as he used to be? Maybe he should start eating some goddam snacks again. Maybe then he'll get his swagger back.