Ryan

NEW YORK — Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan was hired as the coach of the New York Jets Monday, a day after the Ravens lost in the AFC championship.

The 46-year-old Ryan replaces the fired Eric Mangini, taking over a team that started last season 8-3 but missed the playoffs with quarterback Brett Favre after losing four of its last five games.

The Jets announced the hiring, but released no other details. The contract is for four years, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity earlier Monday because the deal had not been announced.

Ryan will be formally introduced at a news conference Wednesday at the Jets' facility in Florham Park, N.J.

PITTSBURGH — Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, but one of his teammates is certain he will play in the Super Bowl.Ward wasn't available to reporters Monday, but tight end Heath Miller can't imagine one of the NFL's most durable players not playing. Ward was the MVP of the Steelers' win over Seattle in the Super Bowl three years ago."I don't think there's any question 86 will be on the field," Miller said. "I don't even know the extent of his injury, but I saw him walking today so I'm pretty sure that two weeks from now he'll be playing."

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Willis McGahee joined his Ravens teammates at Baltimore's training complex Monday after doctors told him he would make a full recovery from a fierce helmet-to-helmet hit in the AFC championship game that had him carted off the field.The play occurred in the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh's 23-14 victory. McGahee had just caught a pass and taken two steps before being met by safety Ryan Clark, who drove his helmet into McGahee's facemask. McGahee's head snapped back, and he lost the ball as he dropped to the ground.