Rex Ryan was back on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” show ahead of the league’s Week 10 games, days after being arrested on six charges stemming from an alleged hit-and-run driving incident in Nashville.
Ryan was at his usual post discussing football and ripping people, but he did not address the incident or his arrest.
ESPN declined to explain why the former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach was allowed to appear days after his arrest.
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This booking photo released by the Metro Nashville Police Department, shows former NFL football coach Rex Ryan. (Metro Nashville Police Department via AP)
But a network source told OutKick that the network made its determination “based on a number of factors, which certainly includes information we have been able to gather and the conversations we have had since we became aware of the incident. We aren’t making it blindly.”
That said, the source said, “with it being an active situation, there is always a chance new information is available that would cause us to reconsider our decision.”
Ryan allegedly ran over Michael Holland and his wife just before midnight on Nov. 5 as they were crossing a busy roadway on the Music City’s famed Broadway street.
New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan greets quarterback Tim Tebow (15) on the sidelines during the 1st half against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. (Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports)
Holland later told the California Post that Ryan “almost killed ” him and his wife with his pickup truck, as they crossed the street.
“If we had been six inches further out,” Holland said, “I’d be in a hospital right now and so would my wife.”
Added Holland regarding Ryan: “He decided he wanted to turn and didn’t care, and just ran over both of my feet, my wife’s foot and got her leg too.”
Holland claimed Ryan ran over his feet. He took pictures of the purported injuries caused by the incident. Holland told the newspaper that Ryan didn’t stop after the incident, but he and is wife were able to catch up with him a few moments later at a stoplight.
They said Ryan got out of the car, argued with them, then got back in his vehicle and drove away.
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Former NFL coach & ESPN analyst Rex Ryan of ‘ESPN’s Sunday’s NFL Countdown’ speaks onstage during the ESPN portion of the 2017 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 26, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Holland did not explain how he was able to catch up to Ryan’s vehicle after having both his feet run over by a truck.
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Ryan, 63, surrendered to authorities and was arrested on six outstanding misdemeanor charges Wednesday, a day after he allegedly struck the pedestrians, according to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
The police said Ryan hit the individuals, who suffered minor injuries, as they were crossing the street. The pedestrians had a walk sign when Ryan, who was turning from 4th Avenue, ran over their feet and made contact with one of their legs, the police said in a statement.
The former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach was charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of failure to give information and/or render aid, and two counts of failure to obey a traffic control signal.
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