Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan, never short on words, says he couldn't bring himself to face his Jets players after being fired following the 2014 season.
An emotional and teary-eyed Ryan shares the story of his departure with Andrea Kremer in the latest episode of HBO's "Real Sports," airing tonight at 9 p.m. ET. Kremer asks whether Ryan had parting words for the players.
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"Yeah I sure did ... on a video," Ryan said. "I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it. I could not do it. Plugged the tape in. See you later."
Rex Ryan's mother, Doris, is brought to tears when discussing her son's goodbye from the Jets.
"He came out and said the Monday morning after a game we always watch film so, 'sorry guys, you'll have to watch this film,' and then he left," Doris tells Kremer. "The film was highlights from his years with the Jets, happy moments, and then he ended with 'thanks for the memories.'
"That's Rex."
When Kremer asks Ryan what he said on the video, the new Bills coach gets up and begins pacing around his home, attempting to compose himself, eventually saying this is "bulls—."
His comment didn't appear aimed at Kremer, but rather the Jets and the feeling that he was set up to fail when the team didn't make moves to spend and improve prior to the 2014 season.
Ryan knew it would be his last season, he tells Kremer.