Rex Ryan Names IK Enemkpali Captain vs. Jets

Few coaches in the NFL troll harder or as often as Rex Ryan. His latest move has been to name second-year linebacker IK Enemkpali as captain for the pivotal Thursday night divisional affair between the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills; a game that could carry with it major wild card implications by season’s end.

Unfamiliar with Enemkpali? You shouldn’t be. The superstar pass rusher has set the world on fire this season with two, count ‘em, two tackles in three games as the unquestioned leader of Buffalo’s talented defense.

Oh, and he also got himself fired from the Jets for punching Geno Smith in the face and putting him out of action. One guess as to which reason Ryan chose for naming this terrible excuse for a teammate captain.

The Jets aren’t shocked about their former coach’s latest shenanigans, either. “Typical Rex,” chuckled wide receiver Brandon Marshall to reporters on Monday. “That’s a Rex Ryan move. Are you guys surprised? I love it.”

Marshall’s words aren’t merely a figure of speech. Just last week, Ryan trotted out offensive lineman Richie Incognito as captain against the Miami Dolphins. Incognito, of course, was unceremoniously dumped from his old team care of a bullying scandal against the now-retired Jonathan Martin.

Incognito was joined in the captain’s circle by tight end Charles Clay and kicker Dan Carpenter, also former Dolphins.

“Rex has made a career of putting a big chip on his shoulder,” added vocal ex-Jet Bart Scott, now a football analyst for CBS Sports. “Those assistants, or guys that got cut from other teams…when he makes those guys captains, he wants to win it for those guys. And those guys will get game balls if they win. That’s part of the reason of what attracts players to him. He takes things personal.”

Personal or not, the NFL is about winning, sometimes by the ugliest means possible. It’s hard to say which team will more motivated by Ryan parading around a player who willingly broke his former teammates’ jaw, but we’ll have three hours to find the answer on Thursday night.