PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Six years ago, Rex Ryan's frustration grew as an ugly, 35-day contract holdout by top New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis played out in front of a national television audience on HBO's "Hard Knocks."
Ryan, then-Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum and then-Jets defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman showed up at Revis' front door; nobody was home. Ryan flew to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida with Jets owner Woody Johnson to negotiate directly with Revis; nothing immediately came of it. Ryan later walked out on a conference call with Revis' uncle and negotiator, Sean Gilbert, declaring that his focus would turn to football; eventually, the two sides agreed to a new deal.