'I obviously made a mistake,' Ryan said after the incident
Rex Ryan is staring at a hefty fine for cursing at a fan at halftime of the NY Jets’ loss to the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium.
Rex Ryan will be a little lighter in the wallet on Monday. The NFL is expected to fine Ryan between $75,000 and $100,000 for shouting a profanity at a fan in last Sunday night's loss to the Patriots, according to an ESPN report. Commissioner Roger Goodell will take a final look at the incident before the league issues definitive punishment. A league spokesman told the Daily News on Sunday that "nothing has changed" and the matter "remains under review."
Ryan was walking toward the tunnel at MetLife Stadium at halftime when a fan yelled, "Hey, Rex! Belichick is better than you!" A YouTube video captured Ryan responding,"Shut the f---- up!"
The brash coach apologized on Monday.
"I obviously made a mistake," Ryan said at the time. "I was full of emotion and just popped off. Obviously I know I represent the National Football League. I know I represent the Jets. And I know it was a mistake. I apologize for it. This is who I am. I made a mistake. I'm about as big a competitor as there is."
"At that time, I was in no mood to hear anything," he added. "But I also understand I could handle that better. ... I make mistakes all the time. I'm not perfect by any stretch. I try to get better, but sometimes my emotions get the best of me."
It was Ryan's second pubic run-in with fans. In January 2010, he was fined $50,000 by the Jets for flashing his middle finger at fans at a Mixed Martial Arts event during Super Bowl week in Miami.
The team said that the league would handle any disciplinary measures this time.
"Rex and I have talked about it," general manager Mike Tannenbaum said in a statement last week. "Obviously, he let his emotions get the best of him. He knows his behavior was not acceptable."
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