Jets fine coach Ryan $50,000 for gesture

NEW YORK (AP) — Jets coach Rex Ryan was fined $50,000 by the team Tuesday for making an obscene gesture at a mixed martial arts event last weekend.

The team’s decision came after a smiling Ryan was caught on a cell phone camera flipping his middle finger at a fan during the competition in Sunrise, Fla., on Saturday night. The image of Ryan quickly spread across the Internet and made its way onto the back pages of New York tabloids.

Ryan apologized the next day, calling his actions “stupid and inappropriate.”

“I wouldn’t accept that type of behavior from one of the coaches or players and it’s unacceptable from me,” he said in a statement.

General manager Mike Tannenbaum had said the organization was disappointed and would address the matter internally.

The coach also could be fined by the NFL under its personal conduct policy.

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