— The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Rex Ryan tried to keep the embarrassing moments to a minimum Saturday.

He walked to the podium at the NFL’s annual scouting combine in Indianapolis, held up every finger long enough for reporters to count and even kept his shirt on.

It’s a much better look than what fans have been seeing lately.

”I’m watching ESPN and I’m like, ‘Whoa, that’s not a real good shot,”’ Ryan said, drawing laughter while talking about the unflattering image of him changing hockey jerseys. ”I mean, don’t get me wrong, I get hit on all the time by women.”

After losing to Indianapolis in the AFC championship game, a camera phone snapped a photo of Ryan making an obscene gesture during a mixed martial arts event in Florida on Pro Bowl weekend. That action drew a $50,000 fine from the Jets but no additional penalties from the league.

Then, while attending a Florida Panthers-Carolina Hurricanes game, Ryan was captured in still photos and on video changing into a Hurricanes jersey — a revealing portrait of Ryan’s rotund midsection.

Harmless? Yes.

Ridiculous? Maybe.

Life-altering? Not a chance.

”All last year, it’s funny, I used to go into New York all the time and nobody recognized me. I guess they assumed that the head coach of the Jets wouldn’t be wearing a throwback (jersey) or something, but that’s who I am,” Ryan said. ”That’s not going to change. I’m going to be who I am.”