Has Rex Ryan Lost the Team?

For some crazy reason we like to watch a tragedy in progress. If there is an accident on the side of the road we slow down to stare. When people argue in public we all watch. Who hasn't gotten a kick out of watching a buddy crash and burn when he's hitting on a chick?

The inner-voyeur in us all has led to the rise of trashy yet addictive reality shows like Jersey Shore, Honey Boo Boo, and anything that VH1 has ever produced. It's that same desire that makes watching the downward spiral of the New York Jets so darn entertaining.

Take the latest PR fiasco. In case you haven't heard, for some strange reason members of the team decided now was a good time to bash back-up quarterback and punt team member Tim Tebow. One player called him flat out terrible.

A lot has been said about the whole mess, but the one thing I haven't heard yet was anything about Rex Ryan's leadership.

Rex did speak out against the anonymous person that made the "terrible" comment. He called the person cowardly for not owning up to what he said and putting his name with the comment. While he is right in that regard, I have to question why someone would think that it was okay to make the comments in the first place.

It's because the atmosphere in the Jets locker room and within the organization is not one that fosters professionalism  teamwork, and respect. From the moment we all started playing organized football as kids we were taught that the game was meant to be played with honor and integrity. That same honor and integrity was to include how we played the game on the field, treated our opponents, and even more important--how we treated our teammates.

Football is a team sport. No one person can be the sole reason why the team wins or loses. For the team the biggest superstar to do what he does he still needs the rest of the unit to do its job or else he can't work his magic.

So basically without the team playing together, trusting each other, and helping each other the team will have a hard time being very successful. For all that to happen the head coach needs to create an environment in which it can.

Rex Ryan has obviously not as the recent mutiny against Tim Tebow has proven (lets not forget the fractured locker room last season that was never going to happen again.).

The interesting part is when the media talks to the players, many of them talk about how they want to do right by there coach. They don't want to let him down. Yet they continue to do just that both on the field and off with how they play and act.

If rumors can be believed Ryan may be at the end of his rope with the team. He was so upset after the loss to Seattle that he actually cried during his post game talk with the team. The show of passion is a good thing (and likely why the team does like him), but it is something he said that is rather telling about him and the team:

"When are you guys going to believe?"

If that is something that has to be asked nine games into the season I think the question of whether he has lost the team is pretty clear. He never actually had it to lose.