Since 1999, Rex Ryan had been a staple in the Ravens coaching staff. He learned the trade under names like Marvin Lewis and Mike Nolan, both men who went on to earn head coaching positions for other NFL teams. He worked his way up through the ranks, starting as a defensive line coach, and then eventually being named the defensive coordinator when Nolan accepted the head coaching position in San Francisco. His impact was lasting and original in Baltimore’s stellar defensive history. He was a final candidate for the Ravens head coaching position in 2008, and though he was not offered the position, he stayed on board with the man who beat him out for the job, John Harbaugh.

Ryan quickly built a reputation as being the operator behind the scenes of one of the most consistently-dominating defenses in NFL history. He rose as a fan favorite, and was highly respected by the players he coached, including Ray Lewis, Michael McCrary, and Rod Woodson.

This season, he took the position as the New York Jets head coach, thus leaving behind one of the greatest assistant coaching legacies across the league. It was surprising that he was not offered a head coach position sooner considering his work with the Ravens defense was so unbelievable. Two of his players from the 2008 Ravens defense, Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard, followed Ryan to New York, a true sign that his impact on and off the field was unlike many other coaches around the league.

So what could have such a well respected assistant coach done to lose a little bit of respect in Baltimore?

This off season, Rex Ryan has slowly made it a habit of speaking his mind on issues. As a head coach, he has taken an approach to leave no stone unturned when it comes to letting the fans know what he thinks on certain subjects. But, when his rants begin to drift off to subjects that don’t necessarily apply to him anymore, people start to take notice in the wrong sort of way.

Today, Ryan spoke to the media about Ravens rookie defensive end, Paul Kruger. It was nothing about how he liked the way Kruger looked. It didn’t include anything about how Ryan wished he could have had a chance to work with a player of the caliber of Kruger’s. Instead, Ryan ripped on Kruger, and the Ravens organization, for allowing him to wear the same number 99 as Michael McCrary did during his years in Baltimore.

“I am disappointed that they gave his jersey to some rookie who hasn’t proven [anything]“, Rex Ryan was quoted as saying, using an expletive. “Excuse my language. It was disappointing. I’m not coaching that team, so that’s their decision.”

Strong words from a man who is no longer in town.

McCrary will always be considered one of the great Ravens, and in sports, there is nothing more sacred then a great player’s number.

In baseball, Jackie Robinson’s 42 has been retired by every major league team. The Orioles would never allow a rookie to sport such numbers such as 8 (Cal Ripken), 5 (Brooks Robinson), or 33 (Eddie Murray). Showing appreciation to the dedication a player gives to his organization throughout his career is done in no better way then to retire, or at least not allow another player to wear that number.

Football is a bit of a different story. It’s harder to retire a number in the NFL. It has nothing to do with disrespect or the unwillingness to forego a jersey number in order to hold honor to a player. Instead, it’s the NFL jersey rules. Certain positions can only wear specific numbers. For example, quarterbacks can only wear numbers 1 through 19. Wide receivers can only wear numbers between 80 through 89 and, since 2004, 10 through 19. Defensive linemen, such as McCrary, can wear any number from 60 to 79 or 90 through 99.

These squad numbers can limit the availability of numbers to position players. Retiring a number only adds to the limitation. In fact, the Baltimore Ravens currently do not have any numbers retired. Any player’s number can be reused, as we have seen with Chris McCalister’s number back in rotation, being worn by rookie Lardarius Webb.

But, with no disrespect to McCrary, was his career really so great as to make him the first Raven whose number is retired? He was a player that was not drafted by the Ravens (or old Cleveland Browns), but instead by the Seattle Seahawks. While he was a huge team leader, including during the Super Bowl year, McCray spent a decent amount of time on the injured list. One could understand how a coach like Rex Ryan would like having McCray around. The vocal and emotional leader of a defensive squad is usually taken under the wing of the defensive coordinator. But a player who played three full seasons before injuries took their toll may have a hard time finding reason to have his number retired.

Don’t get me wrong. McCrary was a great player on the field. He is third in sacks in Raven’s history. In fact, he finished with 71 sacks during his career as well as 404 tackles in just 136 games. The stats don’t lie; McCrary was a very good football player. But was it good enough to retire, or at least hold sacred, his jersey number?

Ryan is entitled to his opinion that Kruger should not be wearing 99 on his jersey because one of his favorite players wore that number 7 years ago. I would hope that his spat towards the entire situation is because his friend is being disrespected, and not over his concern as to how his former team’s rookies are being treated. Regardless, speaking negatively about the Ravens during a New York Jets press conference is not the premier stage. In fact, speaking publicly about the business of a former employer at all, despite the line of work, is not necessarily a smart, professional move. The only thing we learned from his comments was that Rex Ryan still has a lot of growing to do to fill the shoes of a head coach in the NFL.

Ryan made himself a rookie when he took the Jets opening. He is experiencing an NFL head coaching position for the first time, which comes with growing pains. At this juncture, Ryan would be best suited to focus on the development of his own team. The Jets have issues that need attention, whether it is their quarterback controversy or the defense meeting elevated expectations. Rex has placed himself in the biggest media spotlight in the world. Every move is scrutinized over because, well, it’s New York.

It’s easy to understand that, emotionally, Michael McCrary and Rex Ryan’s relationship is something that Ryan holds in very high regard. The success was beginning to get noticed, Rex was the leader of the most dominant defensive unit in the NFL, and he had the players buying into a hybrid yet successful system. But to leave the organization and still make the Raven’s business his own, is a black mark on an otherwise very clean record.

Rex Ryan will be an outstanding head coach in the NFL. With Mark Sanchez waiting in the wings, a defense chock full of players that he is familiar with, and a system that is proven to work at this level, Ryan has already proven to teams across the league that he will, without a doubt, turn the Jets into a force to be reckoned with. The last thing he should be concerned with is what jersey number a Raven’s rookie is wearing.