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Ryan and Idzik will now look forward to
Leading up to SportsCentres Year In Review on Christmas Eve, TSN and TSN. Scott Kingery Jersey .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at the Roberto Luongo saga. One thought he was on the way out. The other thought he was staying. Two summers ago, Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo was ready and willing to accept a trade out of town. What transpired afterwards was a lengthy whirlwind of speculation on when and where he would go. And its not like the Canucks didnt try. The team spent a full year attempting to deal the Luongo - and the nine years remaining on his $64 million contract. But nothing came of it, and the franchise goaltenders showed his frustration after the Apr. 3 trade deadline passed without a new address. "My contract sucks," said Luongo. "Thats what the problem is...unfortunately it is a big (factor) in trading for me. Id scrap it right now if I could." The offseason brought speculation once more that the Canucks would have another shot at getting Luongo out. But after months of failed attempts, the Canucks surprised pretty much everyone in the hockey world and traded Schneider instead. Even Luongo was shocked by the decision, after accepting the idea that he was the one that was on the move. "I had moved on from Vancouver and I was ready to start a fresh new chapter of my career somewhere else," the three-time NHL All-Star told TSNs James Duthie. "It felt like a divorce, I accepted it and I had moved on personally. "The only problem was she wanted me back." And Luongo was even more surprised that the team would make such a decision without talking to him. "Out of all the situations that I envisioned, that wasnt one of them," he said. "Thats a pretty big move, I thought, to make without having input from the guy youre going to put your trust in." Schneider also described the trade as shocking, adding that after several seasons of expecting to be moved out of Vancouver, he had finally begun to believe he would stay. Schneider, who spent years developing as the Canucks No. 1 prospect, felt he earned the starting job. "It was pretty stunning," Schneider told Duthie. "In this business you know you are always in the mix, you are always fair game. I really felt that having spent my entire career there, having been in the organization a long time, I was hoping to spend the rest of my career in Vancouver. But circumstances changed. Its one of those things where unfortunately it came down to this." And after weeks of more speculation about whether or not he would return to Vancouver, Luongo confirmed he would report to the Canucks training camp in September as the teams starting goalie. "I have a contract. I plan to honour it," Luongo told Duthie. Theres a lot at stake for me this year." Jorge Alfaro Jersey . The light-heavyweight champion and number one ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world is on an 11-fight UFC winning streak, the longest in the history of the weight class. Philadelphia Phillies Jerseys .C. -- Benn Ferrieros familiar with scoring important goals, just not in back-to-back games.NEW YORK -- Rex Ryan went from the hot seat to some job security. Well, at least through the next two seasons. The New York Jets signed the popular coach to a contract extension Thursday, removing the lame duck label from Ryan and keeping him with the franchise through the 2015 season -- and possibly beyond. The team announced the extension for Ryan, who had one year remaining on his contract, but provided no further details regarding the length of the deal or financial terms. ESPN, which first reported the deal, said it is a multiyear extension that contains incentives based on playoff victories. Ryan is 4-2 in the post-season with the Jets, including consecutive trips to the AFC championship game in his first two seasons, but New York hasnt made the playoffs in three years. "I know what we all want and were striving to get there," Ryan said in a statement issued by the team. "But its not about me. Were already into our off-season planning. There are a lot of areas where we can improve and we cant wait to get this thing rolling." Ryan was retained by owner Woody Johnson for next season after his job appeared in jeopardy. Expectations were extremely low outside the team entering this season, but Ryan led the Jets to a surprising 8-8 finish that had players and fans clamouring for Johnson and general manager John Idzik to keep the coach. Johnson, who announced after the season-ending win at Miami that Ryan would be back, rewarded him with the extension and removed the spectre of him heading into next season without a contract beyond this year. Ryan is 42-38 in the regular season in his five years with the Jets. "Im no different than any of our fans," Ryan said. "Im an ordinary guy thats been given an unbelievable opportunity. Ive said all along: Im glad to be a Jet. Im happy to be a Jet. Thats never changed." Despite the extension, Ryan wouldnt necessarily be guaranteed to return after next season or 2015 if the Jets continue to miss the post-season. For now, though, the idea that Ryan could be around for at least two more seasons could help recruit free agents, and the Jets are expected to be a major player this off-season since they will be comfortably under the salary cap. It might also help Ryan with settling his coaching staff, especially after losing special teams co-ordinator Ben Kotwica to Washington and linebackers coach Brian VanGorder to Notre Dame as the schools defensive co--ordinator. Dave Hollins Jersey. . Several other assistant coaches, including defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, have expiring deals. Ryan faced an uncertain future last off-season after the Jets went 6-10, but Johnson retained the coach and fired general manager Mike Tannenbaum. The team hired Idzik as general manager, with Ryan already in place, and it had been speculated that Idzik could want to hire a coach of his choice this off-season. During a news conference to wrap up the season two days after finishing 8-8, the two gushed about their working relationship. "Rex and I have worked well since I got here and have the same vision for this football team," Idzik said in a statement. "As I have stated before, he is a phenomenal teacher and motivator. We are fortunate to have him as our head coach." The Jets opened 5-4 and as one of the NFLs most surprising teams led by rookie quarterback Geno Smith heading into their bye-week break, but they set an NFL record by alternating wins and losses through their first 10 games. A three-game skid sent New York from controlling its playoff fate to barely in the post-season picture. After the Jets were eliminated, there were serious questions as to whether Ryan would be retained. But there was an uncommonly overwhelming amount of support for Ryan with fans, players and ex-players taking to social media to state their case as to why he should stay. Ryan and Idzik will now look forward to shaping next seasons team with plenty of issues to consider, starting with the quarterback situation. The Jets will have to determine whether Smith has a chance to be their quarterback of the future, and whether theyll draft another player to compete with him or sign a proven veteran. New York will likely part ways with injured quarterback Mark Sanchez and wide receiver Santonio Holmes and possibly cornerback Antonio Cromartie to save money on the salary cap, and there are several potential key free agents, including right tackle Austin Howard, right guard Willie Colon and kicker Nick Folk. Ryan now gets a chance to build off the surprising performance of his team and try to make good on that Super Bowl title he boldly guaranteed when he was hired in 2009. "The front office, coaches, players, this entire organization -- were all in this together," Idzik said. "We are all governed by the same motives and that is to build a perennial winner here with the Jets." ' ' '
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