Jets talk to Saleh for second time
49ers defensive coordinator meets for 2 days with N.Y.
New York The search for a new coach continues for the New York Jets after they completed an in-person interview with San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh on Wednesday without apparently reaching a deal.
Saleh was the first of the nine known candidates to speak remotely with the Jets last week to be hosted by the team at its facility in Florham Park, New Jersey.
Saleh arrived Tuesday night and spent several hours with the team before meeting again Wednesday. It’s believed Jets chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson, team president Hymie Elhai and general manager Joe Douglas all met in person with Saleh over the two days.
The Jets announced on social media they had completed their second interview with Saleh, which typically has indicated that a candidate has left the facility.
If it doesn’t immediately reach a deal with Saleh, New York can host the other candidates initially spoken to whose team isn’t playing in the postseason. That would include Carolina offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Indianapolis defensive coordinator
Matt Eberflus, former Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis and Tennessee offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Smith, who has led Tennessee’s offense the past two seasons, is also believed to be very high on New York’s list.
The Jets have also interviewed Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Buffalo offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, New Orleans defensive backs coach Aaron Glenn, and Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley — but their teams are still in the playoffs.
Eagles: Philadelphia won’t be penalized after the NFL looked into the way the team handled its quarterback decisions in the final regularseason game against Washington, two people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Both people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal the conversations. Doug Pederson, who was fired by Philadelphia on Monday, removed Jalen Hurts for third-string quarterback Nate Sudfeld in the fourth quarter of a 20-14 loss on Jan. 3. The Eagles trailed by a field goal when Sudfeld, who hadn’t thrown a pass in a game since 2018, entered. He was picked on his second attempt and also lost a fumble. Washington (7-10) secured the NFC East title with the victory and the New York Giants (6-10) were eliminated. Giants players and their fans were angry that Pederson benched Hurts, feeling the Eagles tanked. The loss gave Philadelphia the sixth pick in the draft instead of the ninth.
Broncos: John Elway’s replacement as general manager will be Vikings executive George Paton. Elway announced the hiring Wednesday. Denver hasn’t reached the playoffs since winning Super Bowl 50 five years
ago. Paton spent the past 14 seasons with Minnesota, including the past six as vice president of player personnel and assistant general manager. He’s been one of the hottest names on the GM circuit in recent years. Elway called Paton “a proven evaluator who knows every detail of leading football operations.” Paton will report to Elway, who is keeping his role as president of football operations.
Chiefs: Running back Clyde Edwards-helaire practiced Wednesday for the first time since getting hurt against New Orleans in Week 15, raising hopes the first-round pick can play in the divisional round of the playoffs against Cleveland on Sunday. Edwards-helaire had been out with a high-ankle sprain, causing him to miss the Chiefs’ final two regular-season games. He also missed a game earlier in the season but still finished fourth among rookies with 1,100 yards from scrimmage.
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