Rob Ryan, speaking from the Browns’ facility near Cleveland, pointed to his early victories as a college assistant (Tennessee State over Morehead State) and noted that he owned more Super Bowl rings than Rex (two to one). Rex Ryan said in a telephone interview that he triumphed the last three times they stood on opposing sidelines and that he had never lost to Rob in the N.F.L.

The trash talking even extended to whiffle ball, a Ryan family pastime.

Rob: “I absolutely kill him. His bat’s tardy.”

Rex: “He’s delusional. I buckle him with the knuckle curve. He’s never been the same since I hit him in the head with a golf ball when we were 10.”

– Greg Bishop, N.Y. Times.

I imagine come Sunday the Ryan vs. Ryan angle will be so blown out that we’ll be sick of hearing about it, but before then, enjoy this tremendous read from Bishop.

Also, I’ve mentioned this here before, but every time I see Rob Ryan I think, “man, Thor really let himself go.”