Okay, I know I've already done a Sitcho Azz Down post for the week, but this one warrants another post. Rex Ryan, the lovable, hugable Jets coach (and former Ravens defensive coordinator) is a good guy. He's a good coach and I always wished him the best of luck in Gang Green Land. But sometimes Sexy Rexy doesn't know when to STFU.

Ravens S Ed Reed is currently rehabbing from hip surgery he had earlier in the year. While the Ravens are contemplating on whether or not they should place Reed on the Physically-Unable-To-Perform list (or known better as the PUP List), Ryan seems to have this notion that Reed will play. According to the Baltimore Sun, Rex explains why he thinks Reed will play in the Monday Night opener against the Jets. Here's a tidbit of what he said:

“Somebody asked me about Ed Reed saying, ‘You know Ed Reed hasn’t practiced,’” Ryan said.

“I said, guys, Ed Reed will play this game. Now he might not play the second game, third game or fourth game, whatever, but Ed Reed is going to play this game. I think part of that is a respect thing. He knows how disappointed I would be if he didn’t play. I want to win the game, but I want to play against Ed. I want them at their best and I know they will be.”

Uhhhh... Earth To Rexy: Reed doesn't play for you. He plays for the Baltimore Ravens. Why would he care anymore if he disappoints YOU, and not his current head coach, John Harbaugh?

As far as the respect comment goes, respect shouldn't even be a factor if a player is coming off of surgery. This isn't an ankle sprain... this man was operated on! Reed needs to worry about the best interest of HIM as well as the team that pays him, not some former coordinator that's moved on and will become the enemy come September 13th.

I love Rex Ryan.. but Rex needs to sit his chunky azz down.

It's that time of year, ladies and gents. I know how folks love then I tell people to "Sitchoazz Down". This time, I'm doing a season edition. There have been some owners, players and coaches who have been naughty in the 2009 NFL season, and simply need to be told to sit down. So I came up with an awards blog, to call them out.

I asked for participation amongst friends, family and of course Twitter and received an overwhelming response. Thanks to all who participated in my survey, you were extremely helpful.

For the owner and coach, the choice was pretty unanimous. It was the player that I received the most different answers for. What awards show is an awards show without theme music. Well, since all of these guys are losers, anyway, I think this music is quite fitting:



So without further ado, let's hand out the awards.

The Sitchoazz Down Winner for an owner IS.........................



By a landslide, Daniel Snyder.


Everyone knows this is the right choice. Since Danny Boy took over the Washington Redskins in 1999, he's done nothing but water down the organization. The last 10 seasons, the Redskins have a dismal record of 70-90, 6 head coaching changes, 2 playoff appearances, 0 division titles and one bad deal after another. We all remember when Deion Sanders came to town but there weren't many "Prime Time" moments during his tenure . But the most recent debacle, is signing "Fat Albert" Haynesworth to a record $100 million deal. While Haynesworth isn't a bust, he definitely hasn't held up his end of the bargain so far, given the huge contract he's received.

Snyder loves to trade away quality draft picks for players that he usually overpays for. He's neglected important positions such as his offensive line, and even had signs and t-shirts that said anything bad about him or the team, banned from the stadium. Did I miss anything?!


Honorable Mentions:

Al Davis, Oakland Raiders-

JaMarcus Russell and Darrius Heyward-Bey. Nuff said


Bud Adams, Tennessee Titans-

For flipping the bird at fans at the Bills game. It was gangsta, but c'mon man. You're too old to be doing stuff like that.



The Sitchoazz Down Winner for a coach IS.........................

None other than Josh McDaniels of the Denver Broncos.


This was another unanimous selection. McDaniels has done nothing but cause drama from the day he arrived in Denver to replace Mike Shanahan. It all started when McDaniels inquired about a possible trade for then-Patriots QB Matt Cassel. Crybaby Jay Cutler got his boxer briefs in a bunch and demanded a trade, which he was then granted and sent to the Chicago Bears. Then McDaniels had a falling out with WR Brandon Marshall during training camp and suspended Marshall.

When the regular season started, all was well when the Broncos went 6-0. The team was playing well and everyone was hugging and kissing, it was a big, soppy love fest. But then the Broncos went 2-8 down the stretch and slipped out of playoff contention. Once again, Marshell and McDaniels had another falling out, and McDaniels called Marshall out about an injury. Marshall and another teammate were then benched and were advised they were not allowed on the sidelines or in the locker room. Now the Broncos are almost certain to trade away their top offensive threat in the offseason, due to the conflict. Way to go rook! Scaring all of your good players away seemed to be the way to go in 2009 for McDaniels.

Honorable Mentions:

Rex Ryan, New York Jets-

Sexy Rexy, after the team lost to the Falcons, declared that his team was in fact out of playoff contention at 7-7, when they were still mathematically in it. Way to show confidence in your team. That, plus the fact that he looks 15 1/2 months pregnant gives him a mention.

Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers-

Contrary to popular belief, I never once thought of Tomlin. But Steelers fans asked for him to be on this list. The reason? His "unleash hell" comments that he made after the Ravens OT loss. The result after: Losses to the Raiders and Browns. Yep, you unleashed hell alright. Sitchoazz down!


The Sitchoazz Down Winner for a player IS.........................

We actually had a tie for this recipient. I am pleased to announce the winners of the Player Award is none others than Broncos WR Brandon Marshall and Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell


Hmmm.... Marshalll looks a little shocked to have made my list. Actually, most folks that voted for McDaniels, voted for Marshall also. While they both come from the same organization, majority of the voters think that Marshall is just as much to blame as McDaniels in this petty battle for control. . In addition to the disciplinary problems Marshall faced during training camp, it's been reported that McDaniels benched Marshall in the Broncos finale because he was late for a therapy meeting. Add to the fact that Marshall has had off-the-field issues recent (he was accused of assaulting an ex-girlfriend) and in the past, and he's a shoe-in.

Russell is on the list because he's the laziest, fattest QB I think anyone has ever seen.

The former #1 overall draft pick has done nothing to keep his job. It's been alleged that Russell does not study film, not a hard worker and was eventually benched by Raiders coach Tom Cable because he was awful on the field. Russell recently missed his final team meetings to go catch a plane to Las Vegas, so yeah... clearly football isn't his priority. And by the looks of that ugly azz chain he wears, he's stealing money and getting away with it.

Honorable Mentions:

Larry Johnson, KC Chiefs/Cincinnati Bengals-

To put it kindly, LJ is a Douche Lord (ala Khloe Kardashian). Okay, I realize that wasn't kind at all. But so what. Johnson went on a twitter rampage, bad mouthing Chiefs head coach Todd Haley and afterward, calling followers gay slurs. Johnson was eventually let go and re-signed with the Bengals. Though he's been quiet since going to Cincy, his little tantrum gives him a clear runner-up spot in the awards show. He needs to do more than sit has ass down, he needs to STFU, too.

I've made it no secret that I'm a Ravens fan. I love my team and will always support my team. Although some folks in my blog family has called me a homer ( *cough* Ed The Sports Fan *cough*), I'm far from it. When the Ravens do bad, I ream them a new one on what they did wrong. When they do things right, I praise them. But no matter what they do, I'll always love the purple and black.

This off season, I've heard a lot of doubt from the naysayers about the 2009 Ravens defense. How they will drop off from last year, how certain pieces to the puzzle are gone and an inexperienced coach will have us slump out of the Top 5 in total defense. Even NFL.com has the Ravens declining in some areas in 2009.

It is my duty to prove you guys wrong and give you reasons why folks shouldn't be so soon to write the Ravens defense off just yet.


1) Ngata, Ray Ray and REEEEEEEEEEEEEDDD-


There are 3 good reasons why the Ravens will not fall in 2009. NT Haloti Ngata, LB Ray Lewis and S Ed Reed. While most folks know all about Lewis and Reed, not many fans outside of Baltimore have heard about Ngata. The former 1st round pick out of Oregon hasn't done anything flashy. But he plugs holes and makes plays. Ngata is very well respected around the league by his opposition. Steelers NT Casey Hampton once told Ngata that he selected him for the Pro Bowl and that he's snubbed every year he doesn't get in. If that's not respect, then I don't know what is. Ngata is a hell of an athlete. Don't let his 6'4", 335 lb frame fool you. Ask Houston's QB Sage Rosenfels about Ngata's athleticism.


As for Ray and Reed, they are natural born leaders and great athletes in their own right. While Lewis isn't the spring chicken he one was, he's still one of the best emotional leaders and teachers of the game. Whatever skills have diminished on the field, he's made up for in teaching young LBs how to study film and learn their opponent. Lewis is known to have one of the best football instincts around. With newcomers like Tavares Gooden, Jameel McClain and Antwan Barnes, Ray has a lot to show these young LBs how they can excel. Reed is a beast, even with a nerve impingement injury. His career shows why he continues to make this defense better



2) The Ozzie Factor


Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome has always been great at picking up defensive pieces of the Ravens' puzzle. The Wizard Of Oz has drafted the likes of Lewis, Reed and Terrell Suggs and signed free agents such as Tony Siragusa, Rod Woodson and Trevor Pryce. The best knack that Newsome has, is the signing of undrafted rookie free agents. Players such as Bart Scott, Maake Kemoeatu and Will Demps, all have contributed heavily to the Ravens defense.

When good players left the Ravens for big contracts, Ozzie brought in new players who fit the system. The former players became a distant memory, thanks to Newsome's specialty of getting defensive players who fits the Ravens style of playing defense.

If Ed Hartwell doesn't leave for the Atlanta Falcons, whose to say that Bart Scott would've become a starter? If Dawan Landry doesn't get hurt, whose to say you would know who Jim Leonhard is??? There is a reason why Oz is regarded as one of the Top 5 GMs in the NFL.



3) History Says So


People love to bring up the fact that the Ravens lost so many key components on defense. Rex Ryan, Bart Scott and Jim Leonard have all gone to NY to coach/play for the Jets. But history shows that the Ravens won't miss a beat. Ryan's predecessors, Marvin Lewis and Mike Nolan, weren't too shabby as coordinators either.

The 2000 Ravens are regarded as one of the best defenses of all time. I think some forget, that Ravens fans heard the same thing when Lewis left for the Redskins after the 2001 season. Media outlets and others thought that the Ravens would fall off. The 2002 season did show decline, but that was due the departure of Siragusa, Woodson, Rob Burnett and the injury of Ray Lewis early in the season. The new scheme of Mike Nolan was also a factor (they swtich from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense), but the team went from 22nd in total defense in 2002 to 3rd in 2003.

Nolan accepted a head coaching job with the 49ers in 2005, and the naysayers came right back with the same accusations. That we would struggle and decline. But once Ryan stepped in, the Ravens D accelerated, having the #1 overall defense in 2006. Since 2000, there was only one season in which the Ravens defense ranked lower than 6th (2002 salary purged season), which says a lot for Lewis, Nolan and Ryan as defensive coordinators.


4) Mattison Factor


If any coach is up for the job, it's Greg Mattison. The former defensive coordinator for the Florida Gators has been coaching football for over 35 years. Mattison has already said that there won't be many major changes from Ryan's defense.

Mattison is known best as a pressure lover, and likes to blitz the QB at any chance given. He is also used to working with a lot of speed players, which work well in his system. With the off season acquisitions of Dominique Foxworth and Chris Carr, and the promotion of Tavares Gooden to replace Bart Scott, the Ravens are looking to be faster on defense, which is right up Mattison's alley.

Folks like to remind us that Mattison only has one year of NFL experience under his belt. But during his inaugural season, he was able to learn from one of the best. Mattison got to see first hand how Ryan ran his defenses and can now emulate a similar game plan and turn it into his own. The players have so far said they really like his defensive schemes and have always had a good relationship with Mattison.


I'm not going to go out on a limb and say they will be #2 like 2008 or better. But in my mind they are still a Top 5 defense all the way around. With Kelly Gregg coming back from being on IR last year and the new addition of Gooden at LB, this team can be just as good as last year, if not better. Only time will tell. But when September 13th arrives, we'll find out soon enough

If you've missed the verbal venom between Jets head coach Rex Ryan and Dolphins Channing Crowder, talk a brief look:



It all started when Crowder took shots at Ryan for being confident about his team. Ryan came back and said he had no idea who Crowder was. Then they kept responding to each other like 5th graders. "I know you are, but what am I?" type responses. And it got dumber and dumber and dumber each time.

I love Rex Ryan. He never backs down from anything. He's a confident guy who believes he can beat any and every team, no matter how good they are. While I've gotten the chance to meet Ryan and even learn a couple of things from him, this is idiotic on his part. He's a rookie head coach. I'm not saying he should tone down his confidence, but there are bigger fish to fry here. Get your QB situation taken care of. Better yet, get your RB situation taken care of (both RBs Jones and Washington want new contracts). This is your inaugural season as a head coach of an NFL team. Verbal battles with Channing Crowder should NOT be one of them. Rex, go sitchoazz down.

As for Crowder... well... he really needs to shut up. One, most folks outside of South Florida don't have a clue on who he is. When Joey Porter made the statement that the Dolphins are the AFC East Champs and the team to beat, people listened. Why? Because he's a Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl winner. What has Crowder ever done??? The best memory I have of him is Matt Light bashing his head in during a football game and him not retaliating


Yeah, you better get your uncle and daddy to fight this battle. You've shown what you can do (or can't do, depending on how you look at it). Go sitcho punk azz down!

Now, I love the intensity of the two guys. It's June, and it's slow... they gave us football lovers something to buzz about for two days. But none of this matters when the whistle is blown Week 1 of the season.

Thanks for the show guys.... but Go sitcho azz down!