Ryan Apologetic For Bird Flip At Miami Fan

NFL News - February 1st, 2010 - Written by John Ritter

The NFL is investigating the purported misconduct of New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan after a camera phone captured him flipping the bird at a heckler.

According to witnesses, Ryan had been repeatedly badgered by a Miami Dolphins fan, who yelled obscenities his way without pause. One source even said, "(The fan) crossed way over the line" by barking "f$#* you" and "I hate you".

Ryan finally lost his cool, turned around and gave him the salute.

Per ESPN, the image was captured at the Strikeforce: Miami event where Herschel Walker was among the winners in his first-career MMA event, and then sent to a local radio station.

The rookie coach didn't deny his actions, saying in a statement: "It was stupid and inappropriate. I wouldn't accept that type of behavior from one of the coaches or players and its unacceptable from me. I apologize to the Jets organization, the National Football League and NFL fans everywhere."

The league has cracked down on team officials who have been caught retaliating against fans. Earlier in the year, Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams was fined a whopping $250,000 after he was caught on a camera phone flipping off Buffalo Bills fans from his owner's box.

Ryan has drawn the ire of passionate opposing fans all year for his boorish tactics that seem to publicly call out a new team every week. In Week Two, he said his team would treat their impending matchup against the New England Patriots as their Super Bowl, and then told reporters the Jets should be "the team to beat" in the AFC playoffs despite being heavy underdogs.

Witnesses say Ryan was repeatedly heckled after he appeared in an interview on the event's jumbotron, saying, "I just want to tell everybody in Miami, hey, we're coming to beat you twice next year."

He was already caught in the crossfire when he had a public spat with Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder, and drew ridicule when the Jets lost both times to Miami this season. New York would ultimately get the last laugh by securing a Wild Card berth and reaching the AFC Championship. But Dolphins fans haven't forgotten, and most of Ryan's players weren't surprised by the confrontation.

"He's one of those guys who if you come at me, I'm coming at you. It was all in fun. They were probably yelling and talking stuff at him and it ticked him off. Fans can be like that," defensive end Shaun Ellis told the New York Post.

"Man, I love Rex," Faneca said, according to the New York Post. "Rex can be who he is and it doesn't matter to me...That's the face that (Jets owner) Woody (Johnson) chose, so that's the face we go with."