WhoDat!656

METAIRIE, La. -- After reports surfaced earlier this week about a growing rift with Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was both passionate and entertaining while describing his relationship with the head coach Friday.

"I'll tell you what, I don't admire many people outside of my own family. But Sean's at the top of the list," Ryan said.

"I love Sean Payton," he later added. "I can't speak for him about me. Probably likes me, too. But I love him, and I respect the (expletive) out of him. But he's great people. ... He's a pilot, I'm one of them gunnery guys in the back going, 'Huh? What'd you say? Keep (expletive) shooting.'"

Ryan shot down the notion that there's anything unusual about the times Payton has been captured yelling at him on the sideline -- most recently after the defense was penalized for having 12 men on the field last Sunday.

"Look, the two best coaches in the league right now are Sean and Bill Belichick. I've been fortunate to work for both," Ryan said. "And both of 'em have ripped my ass on the sideline. In fact, Belichick popped my earmuff on my head one time. I felt like filing a suit, but I didn't. But I still have damage."

Ryan did acknowledge, though, that he needs to do a better job of coaching the Saints' defense, which is ranked 31st in yards allowed and dead last in the league in third-down percentage.

"Hell, this is a win business," Ryan said. "Look, my goal is to hang some of these banners here. I want my goal to be up there. If it's not, I know how this business is.

"I've been at a lot of different teams, and that's because (if) you don't hang banners, you get your ass fired. That's how it is."

Payton also reiterated the respect he has for Ryan's passion and work ethic.

"The qualities he has are those that he could have worked for Bill (Parcells), because he's passionate. He's there late. It means everything to him. And he's got thick skin," Payton said. "Shoot, I'm in his office eating -- he's got a candy store in there at midnight, everything under the sun -- and (he's) looking at third-down film. It means so much to him, and that's what you want in an assistant coach."

Ryan agreed with the notion that he could have worked for Parcells because he said he loves working for "intense" people like that.

"Absolutely, there's no question I could, because remember, I've worked for Bill Belichick, I've worked for Sean Payton, and I worked for the great Al Davis," Ryan said. "Trust me, I can handle intense people, and I love being around those guys. My father (Buddy Ryan), too, he was no cupcake. I love toughness, I do."

Rob Ryan, Sean Payton of New Orleans Saints sing each other's praises - ESPN

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

foreverfan

SloMotion

Just win, baby! Make-up sex is always the best, .

QBREES9

Butt Kissing!!! 101.

RailBoss

Okay that's all well and good now go ahead and match Coach Payton's
intensity back and he will be right back at you with love. On a side note would love to see the video of Belichick ripping off the "Big Man's" earmuff!!

darksoul35

I hope he is here next year. I just like the cat. He did have the biggest defensive turnaround in history just a year ago. We do suck this year though.

jeanpierre

It's the personnel, he's a 3-4 guy trying to make it with broken 4-3 parts...

And when we should be taken quality players in the third round at linebacker, we're trading up for neat toys when we have enough talented players on offense at the skill positions and not enough touches to geaux around...

Shouldn't have hired him if we we're not going to give 'em the tools needed...

Needed 3-4 linebackers and Loomis had salary-cap grid-lock with guaranteed starting slots because of same...

|Mitch|

I'd buy that; except for the fact that he made it work last year...

UK_WhoDat

I never thought I'd feel this way the way I feel about you
As soon as I wake up, any night, any day
I know that it's you I need to take the blues away

It must be love, love, love
It must be love, love, love
Nothing more nothing less .....

SloMotion