Former NFL Jets coach Rex Ryan “is meeting with ESPN executives today” for a possible role with the net in the event he does not land a head coaching job, according to sources cited by the N.Y. Daily News' Manish Mehta (TWITTER.com, 12/30). In N.Y., Richard Sandomir writes Ryan "has assets that would suit any network’s needs." He has a "big mouth" and is "bright and engaging and blessed with a terrific football mind." Ryan "would be ideal at ESPN, which has so much NFL programming it could give him his own show." The pregame shows on both CBS and Fox "are full, and NBC has Tony Dungy, who won a Super Bowl as a coach, on its evening show." NFL Network has "pretty much reached full employment on its studio shows, but it must create 365 days a year of NFL content." Finding a place for Ryan "should be on the league-owned channel’s must-do list." It is "less likely that a network would hire him to call games, because the No. 1 analysts’ slots are taken, and he would probably not view his taking a spot low on CBS’s or Fox’s depth charts as a lateral move from coaching" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/30). Yahoo Sports' Rand Getlin said Ryan "has brighter days ahead of him" after being fired yesterday. Getlin: "They say he can make $5 million as a broadcaster. I believe it. Big personality" ("Rome," CBS Sports Network, 12/29).
