Instant preview: Games with growing intrigue factors

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: June just isn't the same now that Rex Ryan can kick it around as a head coach, and thank you, Woody Johnson.

By hiring Ryan you just made the Jets the must-see team of this month and, maybe, just maybe, this year. Ryan has changed our perceptions of the Jets, which got me thinking: There must be games out there that no longer look the same, too.

So I found five of them. I'm talking about five games that are more significant, interesting, intriguing -- you name it -- because of the personalities and the emotions involved, and you're getting warm if you think Rex Ryan and the New England Patriots make the cut.

Will Jay Cutler want to make a preseason statement to the Broncos? (US Presswire)

Ryan is in here twice, and tell me that happens with Eric Mangini in command. There's a better chance of another forced march by the Cleveland Browns to Hartford, Conn. Anyway, these are five games that should have people talking before they are played, and our list wouldn't be possible without Generation Rex.

Chicago at Denver (preseason), Aug. 30

Jay Cutler returns to Denver for the first time since he waged a slash-and-burn campaign on the Broncos -- correction, coach Josh McDaniels -- to force a trade to Chicago. So the Broncos talked about dealing him when Matt Cassel became available. Big deal. It happens. Most guys buck up and get over trade rumors. Not Cutler, who reminds me less of John Elway and more of Jeff George. Anyway, this is his chance to show McDaniels he screwed the pooch when he let Cutler walk, and Cutler knows it.

It's also quarterback Kyle Orton's opportunity to remind Chicago fans that his leadership was more valuable to the Bears than a tightly-wound Jay Cutler spiral. By definition, exhibition games are meaningless. Not this one. The reputations of McDaniels, Orton and Cutler are at stake, with each determined to make good in their first public showdown. Trust me, this is one game that counts everywhere but the standings.

New England at N.Y. Jets, Sept. 20

Tell me this date isn't circled in blood red ink on Bill Belichick's calendar. The Jets' Ryan has been having a lot of fun this month, sometimes at Belichick's expense, saying he "didn't come here to kiss Belichick's rings" before adding, "I'm not intimidated by him or anyone in this league." Wow. You can't make this stuff up. Ryan says what he thinks, and hallelujah. It's about time we had someone with a funny bone in the button-downed AFC East, which means it's about time we had someone who isn't afraid to toy with King William.

Belichick's "It doesn't matter; I'm trying to get ready to play" reply to Ryan was predictably dull, and lucky for the Patriots he's not as unimaginative with his play-calling. Anyway, with Belichick as its guiding light the AFC East needs a dose of humor as much as Chicago needs a wide receiver. So, Rex Ryan, the floor is yours. Of course, now he must win some ballgames. Oh, that. Uh-huh, if he doesn't put this club on the Patriots' tail he will be doing his stand-ups in the parking lots of Florham Park.

New York Jets at Miami, Oct. 12

Rex, Part II. After he tired of Belichick, Ryan moved on to parrying with Miami linebacker Channing Crowder. Forget that the Dolphins should be annoyed because Ryan zeroed in on Belichick and the Patriots when it was Miami, not New England, that won the AFC East last season. Crowder was steamed because he believed Ryan didn't know who he was. Pssst, Channing, move closer because there's something you should know: THE MAN WAS JOKING! There, that feels better.

Channing Crowder has stayed busy exchanging raspberries with Rex Ryan. (Getty Images)

Anyway, Ryan's Ravens were interested in Crowder when he was eligible for the draft but backed off because of injury concerns. So he knows plenty about him, and, frankly, he likes the guy. I can't say that the feeling is mutual, but who cares? It doesn't matter. Ryan is keeping beat writers happy in Florham Park, N.J., and Davie, Fla., by playfully launching search-and-destroy missions on anything on his radar. Example: Two weeks ago he was asked about a David Harris injury, a split lip that required stitches. Ryan declined to say how many. "We don't want the Patriots to know," he said. Here's hoping the season is this much fun.

Minnesota at Green Bay, Nov. 1

So now Brett Favre's relatives reportedly have hotel rooms booked in Green Bay. Great. Ringling Bros. is back in business. There is just too much going on with Favre and the Vikings now not to believe something won't happen, but I can't be sure what that something will be. Most teams usually have their starters in camp by now, but Favre is the exception. He didn't come around last year until it was late July, and by then the Packers had moved on. Apparently, the Vikings have not, and shame on them. They don't need Brett Favre to win the NFC North; they need someone who isn't 40, doesn't throw a league-high 22 interceptions and doesn't lose four of his last five starts.

If Favre signs with the Vikings, this is the game you want to see because, well, because he would be doing the unimaginable -- playing at Lambeau Field for someone other than the Packers. Then I want to see who has the guts to show up in a No. 4 Packers jersey. Please, Brett, do us all a favor and stick to throwing footballs for Wrangler, not Minnesota.

New Orleans Saints at Washington, Dec. 6

Take your pick: It's either this game or the Saints at Buffalo on Sept. 27. Either way it's the Revenge of Gregg Williams. Williams is a decorated defensive coordinator who was once the head coach of the Bills and who was supposed to be the head coach of the Redskins. It hurt to get canned by Buffalo, but I have a feeling it hurt more to be canned by Washington. After all, the Redskins kept him off the market following the 2005 season by, essentially, making him the Head Coach in Waiting, ready to serve when Joe Gibbs stepped down. Well, Gibbs stepped down after the 2007 season, and it was Jim Zorn, not Williams, who succeeded him.

What made that so perplexing was that Zorn had never been a coordinator -- let alone a head coach -- before, while Williams had four interviews with Washington. I have to believe that infuriated Williams. So this is his turn to prove the Redskins made a mistake by letting him go. All he must do is stonewall Zorn's offense, and, just a guess, but he's working out the details already.