Jets Do 'Due Diligence' On Two-Time Champion; Spags, Ryan Head List
January 1
New York Post
" The dream of Bill Cowher coaching the Jets died less than 48 hours into the team's search for a new head coach.
Now the Jets are left formulating Plan B.
That plan includes Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and possibly Mike Shanahan, who was fired by the Broncos on Tuesday.
The Jets have had no contact with Shanahan, a team source said, but they are performing their "due diligence" on the two-time Super Bowl winner.
The Jets have received permission to interview Ryan, the longtime Ravens assistant and son of legendary coach Buddy Ryan. That interview will not take place until next week because the Ravens are playing Miami on Sunday, and NFL rules prohibit assistants of teams playing this weekend from interviewing before their first-round games.
Spagnuolo will interview Saturday, and in-house candidates Brian Schottenheimer and Bill Callahan will be interviewed tomorrow, according to a team source.
Shanahan is an intriguing late entry to the Jets' coaching search. The 56-year-old was fired by Denver after 14 seasons with the team. He went 146-91 in the regular season there, but his record is just 24-24 over the last three seasons. Fired Jets coach Eric Mangini went 23-25 over the same period.
Shanahan may want control over personnel as well as coaching, something Jets owner Woody Johnson said he does not believe in. Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum is remaining in control of personnel matters, a stumbling block for big-name coaches who want say in personnel.
After Cowher rejected the Jets late Tuesday night, theories popped up that the former Steelers coach may find the Broncos job more desirable because no general manager is in place there. Cowher would like to bring someone with whom he's familiar to be in charge of personnel.
The other plus for Denver is quarterback Jay Cutler. A source told The Post that Cowher did not want Brett Favre to be his quarterback. Discussions never got that far between Cowher and the Jets, but a team source said whoever is the team's new coach will not have Favre forced upon them.
"Woody and Mike want Favre to return," the source said. "However, they understand the new coach will have significant input in that decision."
Ryan, 46, has been the Ravens defensive coordinator for four years. He's been on the staff in Baltimore for 10 years. His defenses have finished fifth, first, sixth and second in the league rankings.
He has interviewed for head-coaching jobs in Baltimore, Atlanta, San Diego and Miami in recent years. The Ravens' players lobbied for him before the team hired John Harbaugh last year.
The other candidates on the Jets' short list are Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and veteran coach Marty Schottenheimer."
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