Rex Ryan tried to trade for Ravens backup QB Tyrod Taylor

Wait what!? Yeah, apparently Rex Ryan, the former Ravens' defensive coordinator tried to trade for backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor when Ryan was the head coach of the New York Jets. Don't believe me, here it is from the big man's mouth when talking to ESPN back in May.

I actually tried to trade for [Taylor] when I was with the Jets. If he's not the fastest quarterback in the league, he's certainly up there with them. He's got great run skills. I'm not gonna say he's Russell Wilson, but he's got a little of that in him, where he's able to run zone reads and pull the ball down and be effective.

Of course, most Ravens fans will remember that Taylor did have some solid footwork in the open field but was less than spectacular with his decision making and accuracy. Then again, that might be why Rex Ryan was so interested in Tyrod to begin with. The head coach famously got Mark Sanchez tattooed on his arm and also selected quarterback Gino Smith. Both of those quarterbacks were mobile guys but couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with the football. Being tied to two failing quarterbacks ultimately led to Ryan being booted from the Jets and onto the Buffalo Bills where he is the new head coach.

Interestingly enough, the Rex Ryan led Buffalo Bills did recently acquire Tyrod Taylor. There is even some discussion that Taylor could find his way into a starting role for the Bills at some point. That athleticism that we've all seen could be used along with one of the best defenses in the league to create an interesting team dynamic, but one that we've seen the New York Jets fail with when Rex Ryan was coaching that team in the same way.

Either way, it is interesting to think that the Ravens were offered something in return for Tyrod Taylor. Taylor was panned by coaches here in Baltimore and could have been replaced at any time by a player more in the style of franchise quarterback Joe Flacco. I'm surprised that the Ravens front office didn't pull the trigger there. Getting something for a player that everyone knew was going to be out of the building soon should have been a no brainer.

What would it have taken for you to jettison Tyrod Taylor to the Jets and Rex Ryan?