NFL

Jets’ GM hunt gets underway

While coach Rex Ryan is applying an extra layer of sunscreen to his tattoos, the Jets are going full-throttle on their search for a new general manager.

The team began interviews Friday with Falcons director of player personnel Dave Caldwell. Interviews will continue today with 49ers director of player personnel Tom Gamble.

Former Browns GM Tom Heckert was scheduled to interview, but canceled late yesterday, according to a source, possibly to take the Chiefs’ GM job. A source said Heckert was concerned with the Jets salary cap situation, and his decision had nothing to do with Ryan’s tattoos. With Heckert dropping out, the Jets have no candidates with GM experience.

There are five known candidates for the job right now, with Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross, Packers director of football operations John Dorsey and current Jets assistant GM Scott Cohen rounding out the field. It is not known when those three will interview, but it should be in the next few days.

Headhunter Jed Hughes is going with a lot of popular candidates, meaning the Jets might have competition for whoever their choice is.

Caldwell, 38, appears to be the front-runner for the Jaguars job. He is also a candidate for the Chargers vacancy. Caldwell worked for Bill Polian with the Colts and has a strong scouting background, which is what the Jets want after firing Mike Tannenbaum, who came from the contract negotiation side of the front office.

The Falcons hit the jackpot with Caldwell’s boss in Atlanta, Thomas Dimitroff. The Jets might be trying to find the next young, up-and-comer. Gamble is one of the hottest names in the league right now. The Browns, Jaguars and Chargers, along with the Jets, reportedly are interested in him. He has ties to Polian, having served as a scout for the Chargers from 1998-2004 under Polian, who reportedly has been pushing Gamble to teams.

Both Caldwell and Gamble have helped assemble teams that have Super Bowl aspirations and seasons strong enough they have byes this weekend.

Dorsey, 52, was considered a candidate to go to the Chiefs with new coach Andy Reid.

Ross, 39, looked like a sure thing in Carolina, where former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi is leading the team’s search. He also has drawn interest from the Chargers and Jaguars. It’s hard to imagine anyone in the Giants organization encouraging Ross to join the Jets after witnessing the madness around the Jets.

Cohen, who has worked for the Jets since 2008, is thought of highly within the organization and knows the franchise well, but would be a tough sell to the fan base because he worked so closely with Tannenbaum.