Ex-Jets coach Rex Ryan gives sly reaction to Patriots' decision to hire Mike Vrabel

"Hopefully, I can kick this guy's a-- twice a year," he said with a smile.

Ryan had interviewed to be the Jets' head coach and suggested he was the favorite to land the job. He would replace Robert Saleh, who was fired in the middle of the season, and interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, who replaced Saleh.

"Clearly, when you have a guy that doesn't show up for mandatory minicamp - and, by the way, he's your quarterback, coming off an injury - I think that's an absolutely ridiculous message you send to the team," Ryan said of Rodgers missing mandatory minicamp over the summer for a trip to Egypt. 

"If he comes back, things would be different. If he's back, it ain't gonna be the country club, show up whenever the hell you want to show up. That ain't gonna happen. I'll just leave it at that."

Ryan was 46-50 as the Jets' head coach and was the last to lead the Jets to the playoffs.

Fox News' Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.