Say this about Jeff Jagodzinski – apparently, he’s really interested in the Jets’ head-coaching vacancy.
The Boston College coach interviewed yesterday with the Jets, and reportedly will lose his job today at BC, according to a source close to the situation.
“He’s done,” the source said.
No Woody, No Chance For Cowher
Jagodzinski, 45, spent the last two seasons at Boston College after nine years as an NFL assistant. He’s considered a long shot for the Jets’ job but may land somewhere else in the NFL as an assistant,possibly in Seattle under Jim Mora Jr., if he is canned today by BC.
Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo warned Jagodzinski over the weekend that he would be fired if he interviewed with the Jets. DeFilippo felt the coach was dishonest with him about the Jets’ interest when it first arose, a source said. Jagodzinski either doesn’t care about his job at BC or feels the athletic director is bluffing.
“[DeFilippo] is definitely not bluffing,” the source said.
Woody Johnson got directly involved with the interview process yesterday, sitting in on Jagodzinski’s interview and talking to current offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who interviewed last week when Johnson was out of the country. Johnson plans on sitting down with offensive line coach Bill Callahan, the other in-house candidate, today.
The Jets also received permission to interview Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks, according to a person familiar with the team’s search. That interview will take place Friday in Florham Park. Meeks, 54, is an African-American and will fulfill the team’s “Rooney Rule” requirement to interview a minority.
Johnson and GM Mike Tannenbaum will interview Cardinals assistant Russ Grimm tomorrow in Arizona. Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan will interview next week. The team has talked with Brian Billick, but no interview has been scheduled.
The NFL Network reported the Jets have contacted Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, but he appears likely to sign a long-term deal to stay at the school.
One person watching the Jets’ coaching search with interest is nose tackle Kris Jenkins.
Jenkins was at the NFL’s Manhattan offices yesterday, cooking in the league’s cafeteria in preparation for “Taste of the NFL,” an event held at the Super Bowl to raise money for hunger-relief organizations.
The first-year Jet said he has been watching the team’s coaching search from afar. He’s followed the rumors each day on the Internet, and believes the organization will make the right decision.
Jenkins did not have much to say about the team’s next coach, but he did take issue with the criticisms of Brett Favre that surfaced last week.
“I would hope everyone else who has seen what he’s done on the field would accept the good and the bad,” Jenkins said. “Let the guy go out with his head up high. At least honor him for what he’s done and what he’s accomplished. Don’t tear him down because he’s on his last legs.”
He called Favre a “great person” and never questioned the quarterback was doing the best he could during the season.
The 29-year-old Jenkins dominated for the first three months of the season after coming from Carolina last winter in a trade. But he wore down in the final month of the season, plagued by a hip injury.
Jenkins said the doctors have told him rest is all the hip needs, and he plans on playing in next month’s Pro Bowl.