Cowher eyeing Jets job

[.GR]

We're hearing Bill Cowher is interested in the Jets, but he wants total control and the ability to put his own football management team in place. As of late last night, however, the Jets had not yet contacted him. But if the presence of GM Mike Tannenbaum is the impediment to Cowher taking the job, then owner Woody Johnson has no choice: He must fire the other half of his Boy Blunders.

 

[.GR]

A high-ranking Jets official told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that the team is still planning to speak to Cowher about its vacant head coaching job. No time or place for the interview has been set, but the official says the Jets would be willing to do "whatever is necessary" to land Cowher if he is truly interested in taking the job.

Cowher plans to speak publicly for the first time about the Jets' opening and other coaching opportunities during CBS' wild-card pregame show on Sunday, a source told 1050 ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand.

Initially, ESPN.com's John Clayton reported Cowher told the Jets he was not interested because he wanted his own personnel director. The Jets official's response indicates the team is willing to let Cowher replace current general manager Mike Tannenbaum with his own candidate.

A Jets source also said Tannenbaum says he's willing to adjust his position to accommodate Cowher.

Cowher has told friends the Jets job interested him for several reasons. First, Cowher would love to coach in the New York market. Second, two of his daughters are either going to school or working in the New York-New Jersey area.

If Cowher doesn't take an open NFL head coaching job this offseason, he does plan to coach in 2010, sources told Clayton. In 2009, though, he is willing to return only if every situation is right for him. He wanted to have a two-year break from coaching to be with family and recharge.


Last weekend, Cowher met with Browns owner Randy Lerner, who asked him what it would take financially for him to be the Browns' head coach. Having a close relationship with the Rooney family in Pittsburgh and still wanting more time with family, Cowher didn't give Lerner a price, and said no.


Cowher recently extended his contract with CBS for another season.

In addition to Cowher, the Jets are also lining up interviews with other candidates, including Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who the Giants have granted permission for the Jets to discuss their opening, sources told ESPN's Rachel Nichols.

 

[DC4]

This morning I heard, espn say..they stop talking to him


and he said he isn't even interested in the Coaching job in Cleveland...Looks like he will be a tv analyst for another year.

 

[.GR]

This morning I heard, espn say..they stop talking to him


and he said he isn't even interested in the Coaching job in Cleveland...Looks like he will be a tv analyst for another year.

They did say that this morning but this was posted after.
Supposedly they are talking again.
Just cuz he doesnt want to coach in CLE doesnt mean he wont coach in NYC.

 

[elcheato]

Oh how would I love for Marty Shottenhiemer to coach the Browns for one year, step down as coach, move into a VP/GM situation, and let Cowher take over in 2010. Because I doubt Cowher coaches in 2009. The odds of this are slim but I can hope lol.

 

[Macken]

cowher will coach in 09 and he will coach in CLE, you can mark my words..

 

[.GR]

He wont coach in Cleveland.
He already told them to take them off their list of candidates.

 

[Macken]

He wont coach in Cleveland.
He already told them to take them off their list of candidates.

you will see my friend... i never make predications but this one i will take a risk on

 

[elcheato]

you will see my friend... i never make predications but this one i will take a risk on

Can I ask why you are so confident? I was confident he'd come here but idk anymore.

 

[Macken]

Can I ask why you are so confident? I was confident he'd come here but idk anymore.

i got an inside source.. ill let ya in on the secret once he signs a contract. and if im wrong, well then im wrong

 

[A.E]

This won't happen. The Jets appear to be the best team in the market for a new HC this off-season but Cowher does want a Mike Shannahan-like control over his team & Mike Tennanbaum certainly wouldn't put himself out of a job.

 

[Macken]

This won't happen. The Jets appear to be the best team in the market for a new HC this off-season but Cowher does want a Mike Shannahan-like control over his team & Mike Tennanbaum certainly wouldn't put himself out of a job.

he will have full control in CLE, watch them sign him as Coach and as the GM . that will make him very happy

 

[A.E]

he will have full control in CLE, watch them sign him as Coach and as the GM . that will make him very happy

Cleveland I would buy being that they are now in the market for both a GM & HC. Not only are you going to get one of the most successful of the NFL's unemployed head coaches, but you would be getting a guy who knows your biggest division rival front and back. Bill Cowher would bring a lot of media coverage to the Browns and just imagine how bad ESPN is waiting to sink their teeth into a dozen "Cowher versus Pittsburgh" stories.

Cleveland is in rough shape right now but they can spend the money and I always say it: "Money talks".

 

[Macken]

Cleveland I would buy being that they are now in the market for both a GM & HC. Not only are you going to get one of the most successful of the NFL's unemployed head coaches, but you would be getting a guy who knows your biggest division rival front and back. Bill Cowher would bring a lot of media coverage to the Browns and just imagine how bad ESPN is waiting to sink their teeth into a dozen "Cowher versus Pittsburgh" stories.

Cleveland is in rough shape right now but they can spend the money and I always say it: "Money talks".

at least someone is looking at it the same way i am..

so thats two of us saying hes going to CLE.

 

[VC15]

Source: Cowher's agent declines Jets' advances

ESPN.com news services

Bill Cowher Not Interested In Jets' Coaching Job

Bill Cowher is out of the running for the New York Jets' vacant coaching job.

A high ranking Jets official told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that the Jets reached out to Bill Cowher on Tuesday about their vacant head coaching job. Cowher's agent called the team back and told them that Cowher had no interest in their coaching job.

"After reaching out to Coach Cowher's representatives, we were informed tonight that he is not a candidate for the position," Jets spokesman Bruce Speight told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.

Initially, ESPN.com's John Clayton reported Cowher told the Jets he was not interested because he wanted his own personnel director. The Jets official's response indicated the team was willing to let Cowher replace current general manager Mike Tannenbaum with his own candidate.

A Jets source also said Tannenbaum said he was willing to adjust his position to accommodate Cowher.

Cowher had not given the Jets the impression he must have total control of personnel, a person familiar with the search told AP. Still, Cowher took his name out of the running without a formal sit-down.

Cowher originally told friends the Jets' job interested him for several reasons. First, Cowher would love to coach in the New York market. Second, two of his daughters are either going to school or working in the New York-New Jersey area.

If Cowher doesn't take an open NFL head coaching job this offseason, he does plan to coach in 2010, sources told Clayton. In 2009, though, he is willing to return only if every situation is right for him. He wanted to have a two-year break from coaching to be with family and recharge.

Last weekend, Cowher met with Browns owner Randy Lerner, who asked him what it would take financially for him to be the Browns coach. Having a close relationship with the Rooney family in Pittsburgh and still wanting more time with family, Cowher didn't give Lerner a price, and said no.

Cowher, 51, was 161-99-1 in 15 seasons with Pittsburgh, including a Super Bowl win in 2006.

Cowher recently extended his contract with CBS for another season.

In addition to Cowher, the Jets are also lining up interviews with other candidates, including Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The Giants have granted the Jets permission to speak with Spagnuolo regarding their opening, sources told ESPN's Rachel Nichols.

New York is also expected to interview a pair of in-house candidates: offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and offensive line coach Bill Callahan, who also served as assistant head coach under Eric Mangini, who was fired as head coach Monday. Mike Shanahan, fired by Denver on Tuesday night, could also be a potential candidate.

Spagnuolo has become a popular candidate given the Giants' success on defense the last two seasons under him. The 49-year-old defensive coordinator has been mentioned in connection with the vacant Detroit and Cleveland jobs, as well as the Jets.

He was hired by the Giants in January 2007 after working eight years under Jim Johnson with the Philadelphia Eagles' defense. Spagnuolo was considered for the Washington Redskins job after the Giants upset the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl last season, but he chose to remain with New York.

Chris Mortensen is a senior NFL analyst for ESPN. Information from ESPN.com's John Clayton, ESPN's Rachel Nichols and The Associated Press was used in this report.

 

[A.E]

The Jets have received permission to speak with Ravens' defensive coordinator Rex Ryan.