National Football League

Rex Ryan agrees: If I don't right ship, I'm getting fired

Published Oct. 8, 2014 5:08 a.m. ET

foxsports

With the Jets off to a woeful 1-4 start, mired in a four-game losing streak with their quarterback situation seeming to get worse by the week, there is no shortage of people calling for head coach Rex Ryan to be fired.

One of the people who agrees with the critics? Rex Ryan.

According to ESPN, while speaking on his weekly radio appearance on "The Michael Kay Show" on 98.7 FM in New York on Tuesday, the embattled Jets coach admitted multiple times that if the Jets don't right the ship he thinks he will be fired.

"You're right, if that's the case and we don't get this thing on the right track, I don't think for a minute I'll be here," he said. "I know I won't, but I believe this team will right itself and we'll find a way."

Later, when asked if he thinks he would be fired based on the season's first five games, Ryan said: "If the season ended today, you're probably dead on. There's no 'probably' about it. But the season is far from over and I think we have time to get this going."

It seems like much longer, but just five weeks ago the Jets entered the season on a bit of a high note. New York finished a surprising 8-8 last season, missing out on the playoffs on the regular season's final day. A couple weeks later, Ryan signed a multi-year extension and many had the Jets and second-year quarterback Geno Smith as playoff contenders this season.

But after beating the even-more-woeful 0-4 Raiders in Week 1, the Jets have been in a freefall. Smith currently ranks 32nd among qualified quarterbacks in passer rating, and has more sacks (8) and interceptions (6) than passing touchdowns (4). Last weekend, while "leading" the Jets to the season's first shutout, Smith was benched at halftime in favor of offseason acquisition Michael Vick. But that didn't go much better as New York was thumped 31-0.

After the game, reports surfaced that Smith was among a group of players late to a Saturday meeting, the QB claiming he lost track of time due to the time change from New York to San Diego.

Ryan on Tuesday expressed confidence in Smith and every other player on his roster, then offered a reason for hope despite his team's struggles — and pointed to the rival Patriots to do so.

New England was humbled 41-14 in Kansas City on Monday night in Week 4, then responded last Sunday night with a 43-17 blasting of the previously unbeaten Bengals.

"They got blown out and they righted the ship," Ryan said. "This will be the same way. I wouldn't be surprised if it's this week against arguably as good a team as there is in the National Football League right now."

The Jets host Peyton Manning and the 3-1 Broncos this coming Sunday. Ever the comedic optimist, Ryan gave a peek into his plan for slowing down Manning:

"I'm not going to say we're going to poison his food or anything, but that has crossed my mind," he joked.

In his sixth season with the Jets, Ryan is 43-42 in the regular season, 4-2 in the playoffs. But the Jets have not been to the postseason since the 2010 season, the last season they finished with a winning record.

H/t: ESPN