Rex Ryan, Tony Dungy clear air

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CORTLAND, N.Y. -- New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, bothered that Tony Dungy criticized him publicly for cursing on camera, said Thursday he cleared the air in a "man-to-man" conversation with the former coach.

Ryan said Dungy, an NBC analyst, accepted his invitation to make a get-acquainted visit to the Jets' facility.

"I wanted him to know how I felt," Ryan said. "We talked man-to-man. He told me his position, and I definitely told him my position. It was good. He knows some people I know. There are a lot of positive things being said about me ... We'll leave it at that. We look forward to having him come up and see what we're all about."

Ryan and Dungy spoke Wednesday, not long after Ryan fired back at the former Colts and Buccaneers coach. Ryan said Dungy "unfairly judged" him after the profanity-laden first episode of HBO's "Hard Knocks," which is following the Jets during training camp.

Dungy, in a radio interview, said he didn't appreciate Ryan's foul language, said he'd never hire him as a coach and suggested that commissioner Roger Goodell should get involved in the matter.

Ryan was so bothered by Dungy's public comments that he left a message for him, asking to talk.

Ryan said he's never met Dungy. Asked if the conversation was friendly or contentious, Ryan said only, "We just talked man-to-man, which is good."

In the first episode of "Hard Knocks," Ryan launched 10 f-bombs. In the second episode, which aired Wednesday, he used the word only twice.

Rich Cimini covers the Jets for ESPNNewYork.com.

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Rich Cimini

ESPNNewYork.com

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Rich Cimini, longtime Jets beat writer for the New York Daily News and a Syracuse graduate, covers Gang Green for ESPNNewYork.com.
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