While the St. Louis Rams introduced Steve Spagnuolo ((pictured, thanks stltoday.com)) as their new head coach, the word "team" was implored a few thousand times during his press conference.
"I can tell you this," Spagnuolo said. "I was very blessed and humbled that I was able to talk to various teams throughout this process. What I was looking for in terms of a final decision was people. How it would be working with the people? It was a gut (feeling). I knew inside this was the right thing to do."
The rest of Jim Thomas' article from the Post-Dispatch is in black...
While on Long Island...
The New York Jets introduced Rex Ryan as their new head football coach.
The now-former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator takes over for Eric Mangini who takes over for Romeo Crennel who takes over for no one as of this posting.
Ryan, the son of former NFL coach Buddy Ryan, will be formally introduced at a news conference Wednesday at the Jets' facility in Florham Park, New Jersey.
"It's been a dream of mine to become a head coach in the NFL," Ryan said in a statement. "Coming here to the New York Jets, where my father once coached and was part of the Super Bowl III staff, is fantastic. I look around at the facilities and the people they have in place and see a first-class organization. I'm just proud to be part of it."
The Jets announced the hiring, but released no other details. The contract is for four years, a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity earlier Monday because the deal had not yet been announced.
The deal was finalized Monday afternoon after Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum flew down to Baltimore in the morning to iron out the details, Jets spokesman Bruce Speight said.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Rex has the expertise and instincts to build on the foundation that we have in place and take this franchise to the ranks of the NFL's elite," Johnson said.
Ryan takes over a team that started 8-3, but missed the playoffs with quarterback Brett Favre after losing four of its last five games.
"I'm very much looking forward to meeting Coach Ryan," wide receiver Chansi Stuckey said in an e-mail to the Associated Press. "His reputation precedes him by the success that Baltimore has had, and I'm very excited to get started."
The Ravens' defensive coordinator the last four seasons is the twin brother of Cleveland defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. His Baltimore defense helped the Ravens to the AFC championship game and has been ranked in the top six in total yardage allowed the last four seasons under Ryan, including second overall this season while leading the NFL with 34 takeaways.
"I think it's a gain for them and a loss for us, but it's well-deserved," Ravens linebacker Bart Scott said. "It was a long time coming."
Pardon us here at OSG HQ if we reserve judgment as long as "4" is on an active roster...
