James David "Buddy'' Ryan's death, Tuesday morning, after a long illness from both a major stroke and cancer, was expected.
It might have been the first time in his 82 years, Ryan did the expected.
The NFL icon and Eagles head coach from 1986-90 could never be predicted from the time he was an assistant coach with the Jets under his mentor Weeb Ewbank, to his successful, but embattled run as Mike Ditka's defensive coordinator with the Bears to his days as the Eagles' head coach.
And even after that as defensive coordinator in Houston — remember the left hook to Kevin Kilbride's chin?