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Jets Select Ryan

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 20, 2009

NEW YORK - Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan was hired as the coach of the New York Jets on Monday, a day after the Ravens lost in the AFC Championship Game.

Ryan, 46, replaces the fired Eric Mangini, taking over a team that started last season 8-3 but missed the playoffs with quarterback Brett Favre after losing four of its last five games.

The Jets announced the hiring but released no other details.

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, N.J.

"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 deal was finalized Monday afternoon after Jets owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum flew to Baltimore in the morning to iron out the details, team spokesman Bruce Speight said.

The Ravens' defensive coordinator the past 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 past four seasons, including second overall this season while leading the NFL with 34 takeaways.

BROWNS: Ravens pro personnel director George Kokinis, the leading candidate to be Cleveland's next general manager, met with Coach Eric Mangini and team executives but has not been offered the GM position, a person with knowledge of Kokinis' visit told The Associated Press.

DOLPHINS: Signed linebacker Cameron Wake, a two-time winner of the CFL's top defensive player award. Wake played the past two seasons with the British Columbia Lions, winning the defensive award both times. He had 137 tackles and 39 sacks in that time and was named the Canadian Football League's top rookie in 2007.

GIANTS: Less than two days after Steve Spagnuolo left to become coach of the Rams, Coach Tom Coughlin promoted linebackers coach Bill Sheridan to the post.

PACKERS: Hired Dom Capers as defensive coordinator. Coach Mike McCarthy said the team will switch from a 4-3 defense to Capers' specialty, the 3-4.

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