Odell Beckham Jr. as a member of the Jets?
It could have happened. Ex-Jets coach Rex Ryan said Sunday on ESPN that the Jets discussed trading up to draft Beckham in 2014, when he went 12th to the Giants.
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The Jets stayed at No. 18 and drafted strong safety Calvin Pryor. Beckham, a star wide receiver, has been much better than Pryor through three seasons.
Beckham and Ryan were guest analysts, sitting next to each other, on the “NFL Countdown” pregame show, in advance of Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Patriots and Falcons.
“Not that we could’ve used you with the Jets,” Ryan sarcastically said to Beckham. “We talked about trading up to get him. ‘No, no, no, let’s just stay pat.’ Next pick, he gets taken.”
And then Ryan rolled his eyes, emphasizing what he clearly believes was a mistake. Ryan hasn’t been shy about taking shots at ex-Jets general manager John Idzik since they both were fired after the 2014 season. Ryan and Idzik were a dysfunctional, two-year pairing.
Ryan also said last May that the Jets tried to trade for Beckham in the 2014 preseason.
“The rest is history, and I’m sitting on this set,” Ryan continued Sunday.
Host Suzy Kolber asked Ryan if he’s OK now.
“I’m getting over it,” Ryan jokingly said.
Ryan also poked fun at himself for his failed Super Bowl guarantees with the Jets.
“I have to say something: True to my prediction that I would be in the Super Bowl, I guaranteed I’d be there,” Ryan said while on ESPN’s set in Houston, site of the Super Bowl.
Well, you are at the Super Bowl now, Kolber told him.
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“I guess it is a little different,” Ryan said with a smile.
Ryan is doing television analyst work in 2017, after being fired by the Bills. He was the Jets’ coach from 2009-14 and the Bills’ coach from 2015-16. Ryan hasn’t made the playoffs since 2010, when he reached his second straight AFC Championship Game with the Jets. He has a 61-66 regular season record as a head coach, including 41-54 over the past six seasons.
Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.
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