By TomE. Curran
CSNNE.com
INDIANAPOLIS - It's Thursday. Time for Rex Ryan to guarantee the Jets will win the Super Bowl. Joe Namath did the same thing more than four decades ago. His guarantee held up and he lives on as a cultural icon. But Rex has bastardized Broadway Joe's artful bombast to the point where A) everyone smiles, nods and says, "That's Rex... and B) he undercuts his team's considerable accomplishments in his first two years as head coach. "This is the year we win the Super Bowl," Ryan proclaimed Thursday afternoon at the NFL Scouting Combine. "I thought we'd win it my first two years. I guarantee it this year."Ryan makes more promises than a politician. And while it may be harmless bluster and great theater, do you want to get to the point where the words coming from your mouth are discounted? I asked Ryan, "Is there a point when you make guarantees andthey doesn't happen that it will be difficult for people to take it seriously?""I don't care about people taking it seriously," Ryan shot back. "We made it to the AFC Championship two years in a row whenI think people predicted we'd win six games. So, I don't care what people think. I care what our orgainzation believes and what our fans believe. "So, empty promises...I know we got to the same place (the AFC Championship) last year, it might not appear we got better, butI thinkwe got a lot better last year. If we can improve a little bit more, then why not us? We did beat the team with the most wins in the playoffs at their place (New England. We came (to Indianapolis) had a great win against a great team. We're the only team to make the final four the last two years, so why wouldn't I be positive? (Should I say), 'Hey guys, I'll be happy if we're 8-8.' That's the wrong guy standing in front of you."I'm always gonna say the same thing," Ryan concluded. "I believe we can be champs and why wouldn't I believe it. Somebody tell me whyI shouldn't believe that we don't deserve to be champions."Instead of doing that - because the Jets absolutely could win the Super Bowl - I tried to point out that using the word "guarantee"doesn't meanRyan believes his team "can be champs" but that they will be. "I'm not the smartest guy of all time, the sharpest tack," he answered. "Guarantee ... I don't know. I'm just telling you how I feel." Last year, Ryan felt his team was "soon to be champs" as he famously wrote on the side of an ESPN RV. And now, 18 days afteranother Jets-freeSuper Bowl was contested (for the 42nd consecutive season), Ryan's got his Jets winning the Lombardi. The guy is entertaining. And, he's absolutely right, two AFC Championship appearances in his first two seasons as head coach with a just out of the womb quarterback? Amazing coaching job. But try digesting the actual words and imagery Ryan usedThursday when speaking to a guffawing throng of reporters who'd been waiting for Ryan all day. This is how Ryan tried to explain his confidence: "I know the kind of players we have I know the players we're gonna have represent us. This is not something I just believe in. It's not what I want. It's what a whole bunch of people want. From our players, coaches, the entire organization and our fans. Our New York Jets fans want a Super Bowl. I feel it. I sense it. There's no doubt about it. And I think it's my responsibility. The reason I think we're gonna win is we are gonna lock arms and get it done. Players, coaches, fans, we are gonna lock arms. And when we do, we're gonna find a way. And I believe it." They'll win because they "want" it?God only knows why the other 31 teams in the league don'twant to win it, because that's apparently what it takes. And the arm-locking. That should be a helluva photo-op.Bless the man, he puts the entertainment in sports entertainment. And he does stand in stark contrast to his Foxboro counterpart. But this year, he may not find as many faces smiling back at him if he doesn't make good on his promises. Again. Tom E. Curran canbe reached at tcurran@comcastsportsnet.com.Follow Tom on Twitter at http:twitter.comtomecurran