Geno Smith blasts 'coward' ex-coach Rex Ryan

Geno Smith was not shy about voicing his dislike for comments made by Rex Ryan leading up to the quarterback's start in place of Eli Manning on Sunday.

The newest New York Giants starting quarterback lit into his former head coach with the New York Jets on Sunday. Ryan was baffled earlier in the week about the "bizarre" choice to start Smith in Manning's stead versus the Oakland Raiders.

While Smith didn't have a great debut for the Giants - throwing for 212 yards in the 24-17 loss - he was very confident in his takedown of Ryan's comments.

"I did see one of my ex-coaches say he didn't want me to be his quarterback. That really upset me," Smith told reporters after the loss, according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. "I saved his job in 2013. We fought our ass for him both years. For him to say that shows how much of a coward he is."

Smith confirmed Ryan, who works for ESPN as an NFL analyst, was the coach he was referring to. Smith helped the team to an 8-8 record as a rookie in 2013, winning three of the last four games of the season to help keep Ryan's job secured for one more season.