NFL Notes: Rex Ryan, Draft, Giants, Jaguars, Steelers

Rex Ryan

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that a perception exists that former Jets HC Rex Ryan has been politicking too aggressively for the Atlanta Falcons head coaching job.

Florio points to a December 6 article from Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News in which the reporter lobbies for Ryan to take over as the team’s head coach. The article even includes a photoshopped image of Rex sporting Falcons gear.

According to Florio, this was interpreted by the Falcons to be  a deliberate effort by Rex to position himself for a job that was not currently vacant.

Florio believes Rex will have to be “a lot more subtle” to secure the Falcons head coaching job.

Draft

• Oklahoma redshirt sophomore DT Jordan Phillips announced that he’ll be entering the 2015 NFL Draft.

Giants

• Giants owner John Mara said he would like QB Eli Manning to finish out his career with the franchise.

“Yeah, we would like him to retire as a Giant,” Mara said Tuesday, via Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News. “That is where he should be. We still think we can win a championship with him and he is playing at a high level. Of course, we would like to keep him.”

• Giants GM Jerry Reese mentioned that there are no guarantees that WR Victor Cruz will be able to return to his previous form next year.

“Any guy who has a significant injury — and that was a significant injury — you’ve gotta prepare as if, ‘What if Victor doesn’t come back?’ ” Reese said. “That’s always in the back of your head. What if this guy doesn’t come back and be the player that we think he is?”

Jaguars

• According to Florida Times Union, the Jaguars could consider 49ers OC Greg Roman for their offensive coordinator vacancy along with former Bears HC Marc Trestman.

Steelers

• Aditi Kinkhabwala reports that RB Le’Veon Bell was see walking around the Steelers facility Wednesday with “no discernible limp.”