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Chapter Two: Rex's Way


Rex Ryan never cared if people saw him as loud, vulgar, or eternally angry. He only cared that he was doing whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted to.

If there was any indicator of how Rex Ryan planed to run the giants, his introductory Press conference would've been the biggest one:

Rex Ryan Introductory Press Conference, March 2nd, 2008 - The Meadowlands, New Jersey

Good morning, everyone, thank you for being here. January 25th, 1987. January 27th, 1991. The days the New York Giants showed the world who the premier team in this league was. In my opinion, every team has one of these days. These days are the days that define what a franchise is. As the new head coach of the New York Giants, those days are defining, as they show that this is an excellent, premier team, and should think of themselves as nothing less. To any fan out their, they may have their own day. Maybe it when we beat the 'Skins, or the 'Boys, or the Eagles. As the Head Coach of this team, I want every day, every Sunday, Monday, Thursday that we play, to be a special, cherished day for this franchise.

It's truly an honor to be standing here, and I'm incredibly honored to become this team's head coach. I would like to thank John, Mara, any Giants fan or supporter, just for believing in me and this team. Without you, there would be team. In a way, I think as the fans of this team as my employers. And to my employers, I promise you this: a team you will continue to believe in the way you do. As coach of this team, it will be my goal to make sure this team wins games, to make sure this team wins titles, to make this team even more respected and respectable than we already are. However, we must work harder than ever before to return this team to Titletown. Excuse the pun, but we must flip up the playbook, get our players to their best ability to play the game, make the experience for the fans so that you are all happy. We must stick it to our rivals, make every defender be afraid to stop us from getting the ball into their end zone, we must make every offense fear even trying to move the pigskin. We're the Giants for a reason. We must act like the Giants of this league, we must dominate every down of football our guys play. Because that makes us this great team we are.


To say Rex Ryan wanted to change the way things were won was an understatement. He wanted to burn Giants Stadium to the ground, and destroy everything that had been apart of the "old giants". After Ryan was hired, staff turnover at the Giants were the most of any of the 32 teams. If you didn't fit the new scheme of the team, you were out, and Ryan made clear that if one didn't, they should save themselves the time and resign ASAP. The new Giants would emphasize "bigger plays on offense, torching the secondary" and "earth-scorching defensive plays", whatever that meant. It was believed Ryan was trying to groom the team into the next 1985 Bears, completely ruthless on the field. Even thought the Giants were a 10-6, Ryan thought the team desperately needed a rebuild. For better or worse, they got it.

Giants Off-Season Trades:
1. Plaxico Burress: Traded to Buffalo Bills; Bills Receive Buress and a 2008 6th Round Draft and a 2010 Fourth Round Pick; Giants receive 2008 11th Overall Pick and a 2009 Second Round Pick

2. Osi Umenyiora: Traded to Kansas City Chiefs; Chiefs receive Umenyiora and a 2009 Third Round Pick; Giants receive 2008 Fifth Overall Pick

3. Justin Tuck: Traded to Chicago Bears; Bears receive Justin Tuck and a 2009 Fifth Round Pick; Giants receive 2008 Fourteenth Overall Pick and a 2010 Second Round Pick

4. Eli Manning: Traded to St. Louis Rams; Rams receive Manning and 2010 Third and Fifth Round Pick; Giants receive Second Overall Pick

New Picks for the Giants:
2008 Second Overall Pick
2008 Fifth Overall Pick
2008 Eleventh Overall Pick
2008 Fourteenth Overall Pick
2009 Second Round Pick
2010 Second Round Pick
2010 Fourth Round Pick

The NFL world was shocked. Many were dumb-founded how seemingly well Ryan and the Giants Organization had manipulated the four teams in the deal for their future, especially the Bills. Commentator and Former Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Jimmy Johnson called the Bills "The Dumbest Team in Football Today". (Who ironically organized the 1989 Herschel Walker Trade) calledThe trades were called "The Great Trade Robbery Part Three". "Ryan's Raiders" (the nickname of Ryan, his coaching staff, and his scouting staff) began to immediately scout and evaluate the 2008 draft class. In the end, the Giants chose to go with an offense in the first round:

2008 NFL DRAFT (Picks by the Giants):
2008 Second Overall Pick: Matt Ryan, Boston College (QB)
2008 Fifth Overall Pick: Chris Johnson, East Carolina (RB)
2008 Eleventh Overall Pick: Jordy Nelson, Kansas State (WR)
2008 Fourteenth Overall Pick: Desean Jackson, California (WR)
2008 Seventeenth Round Pick: Aqib Talib, Kansas State (CB)
-Giants trade up to get the Seventeenth. They give up a Second and Third Round pick for this slot.
2008 Round 2, Pick 36: Tracy Porter, Indiana (CB)
-Giants trade up to get P2-36. They give up a Fourth and Six.

Reaction to the Giants' trade theatrics was mixed. Some called it clever to go with an offense early, while many criticized for picking a "second-round offense" in the first. Ryan still did not let his detractors get to him, saying "We got a lotta guys who we know will perform well. We have the right trainers, and frankly, I couldn't be more prouder with the staff, and how they got this group together.

Next Update: Postseason 2008, the reaction to the 19-0 Patriots, and more Draft Day Theatrics!



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