Rob and Rex Ryan are two of the most entertaining coaches in the NFL - a league known for coaches having uptight personalities. The Ryan brothers always have a brash opinion or story to share, and their latest gem comes courtesy of the Buffalo News.
The story starts with the two of them as students in the mid-80's as students at Southwestern Oklahoma State. Rex had already met, and begun dating his future wife Michelle, but Rob was still single. Michelle had a girl on the line for Rex to meet up with for a double date, but Rex refused to go.
That lead to a disagreement between the two future NFL coaches, a fight ensued, one Ryan got hauled off to jail, and the other ended up with two broken bones.
Here's how the situation played out, courtesy of the Buffalo News.
Rob: “I was a solo rider and had a babe on the line. But she had a friend. I said, ‘You know, come on. Be a team player.’ ”
Rex: “I said, ‘Dude, I’m staying at home today.’ ”
Rob: “So after a few hundred beers I said, ‘You need to help out.’ He didn’t, so I was pissed and got in a wrestling match with him. I think he was a lot more sober than I was.”
Rex: “I was bigger and was just going to throw his ass down. But he reversed me and got on top. So we went at it. We ended up outside, and here he comes.”
Rob: “I ran after him, and he had a right hand waiting for me. I never saw it coming. Still haven’t seen it.”
Rex: “I got him good, and it was over. I felt terrible. I couldn’t believe I hit my brother like that.”
Rex was furious and, as keeper of the car key, drove off to clear his head. Tatters of a bloody shirt hung off him.
“I get pulled over by a cop. He sees me and doesn’t know what he’s got,” Rex said with a gleaming-white smile. “I said, ‘I just got in a fight with my brother. You can take me back there, and he’ll explain it.’
“They take me to jail and then called my brother. He said, ‘Nah, leave him in there.’ ”
Rob ended up with a broken nose and ankle after the scuffle, and when they showed up for the Super Bowl (when their father Buddy Ryan was coaching the Saints), their old man wasn't too happy.
As I picture the whole scenario playing out, I can't help but imagine the fight scene from Step Brothers. That's probably exactly what it was like, right?
Someday, these two should compile all their stories into book because you know there's plenty more (and better) tales where that one came from.