You Talkin' to Me? How Rex Ryan stacks up against Buddy

From: Gonzalez, John

To: Ford, Bob; Fox, Ashley

Subject: The son also rises

Was just reading a story about Rex Ryan. The Jets' coach started the season trying to lose some of his 350 pounds. Then he gave that up and gleefully returned to a regimen that includes some 7,000 calories per day, according to the N.Y. Daily News. When asked what went wrong with his diet, Ryan said moving to Jersey didn't help because "there are so many Italian restaurants."

Like his father, Rex has a way with words. Unlike his father, Rex already has two playoff wins. I was a huge Buddy fan back in the day, but is Rex already a better coach than his old man?

From: Ford, Bob

To: Gonzalez, John; Fox, Ashley

Subject: The son also rises

Buddy was a good defensive coordinator who should never have been a head coach. Didn't have the temperament for the job. He was a fan favorite because he had a personality and said funny things, which makes him just about the direct opposite of the incumbent head coach. Didn't make him a good head coach, however, but if he had the same accomplishments as Andy Reid, there would be a statue of him outside the stadium.

From: Fox, Ashley

To: Gonzalez, John; Ford, Bob

Subject: The son also rises

I like Rex, but I don't have to cover him on a daily basis. He's certainly got his guys playing well. His schtick works for two reasons: He's genuine, and he's winning. Without either component, it wouldn't work at all.

From: Gonzalez, John

To: Ford, Bob; Fox, Ashley

Subject: The son also rises

First time for everything I suppose, but you're right about this, Ford. Buddy pulled off an amazing feat here. He was loved when he was the head coach, and he remains loved decades later even though he never won a game of any real significance. Neat trick, and one I would have thought impossible to pull here in Philly.

His boy has already reached a championship game, which necessarily makes him more successful. I'll take Buddy in a quip contest any day, though.

From: Ford, Bob

To: Gonzalez, John; Fox, Ashley

Subject: The son also rises

He wasn't hilarious to cover. He was annoying as hell in person, short-tempered, insecure, combative. As often as he said something witty, he just mumbled responses to questions and was indecipherable. If he had operated in the we-go-live era of televised news conferences, people would have tired of him quickly and wondered how he got his job. The myth is that he was Don Rickles with a whistle all the time. Let's wait a year or so before canonizing Rex, too, by the way.

From: Gonzalez, John

To: Ford, Bob; Fox, Ashley

Subject: The son also rises

Let go of the hate, Bob. It's bad for your heart.

From: Fox, Ashley

To: Gonzalez, John; Ford, Bob

Subject: The son also rises

Ah, the insults, I see. Please, continue. It's entertaining. As in, not at all.

From: Ford, Bob

To: Gonzalez, John; Fox, Ashley

Subject: The son also rises

See that, Gonz? Another woman you've alienated.

From: Gonzalez, John

To: Ford, Bob; Fox, Ashley

Subject: The son also rises

It's a gift.