Woody set in turmoil by another Rex

Rex is flexing his muscle in the Jets universe again. No, not that Rex. Nearly a month after Donald Trump announced that Woody Johnson would be the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, the Jets owner remains in limbo, perhaps due to a power struggle in the dysfunctional new administration.

Several ambassadorship positions have not yet been filled due to a conflict between Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Sources familiar with the situation claim that Trump ensured Tillerson that he would be consulted in the ambassadorship decisionmaking process. The Secretary of State was “angered” when Priebus got Trump to sign off on some of the ambassadorships without his input, the Journal said.

Barnum & Bailey might be closing up shop, but the circus at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue will be open for business for at least the next four years.

It’s unclear whether Tillerson wanted to be consulted on the U.K. ambassadorship, one of the more important positions of that kind, but Johnson is still waiting for official word.

The Jets couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday morning, but Johnson told NJ Advance Media the night before Super Bowl LI in Houston that his role in the Trump Administration was “speculative at this point.”

Trump announced in a speech on the eve of his inauguration last month that the Jets owner would indeed be headed to the United Kingdom to be a part of his administration.

“(Trump) said it, but it has to become official,” Johnson said last week, via NJ Advance Media. “It’s a process you have to go through.”

The supposed standoff between two key members of the Trump Administration comes in the wake of the firestorm and embarrassment over National Security Adviser Mike Flynn’s resignation.

“It’s a dysfunctional White House, and nobody knows who’s in charge,” Senator John McCain (R.Ariz.) said Tuesday.

Johnson, a key GOP fundraiser, would have to cede day-to-day control of the Jets if/when the three-year appointment to the U.K. becomes official. ProFootballTalk.com previously reported that Chris Wold Johnson, the younger brother of the billionaire owner, would take over.

The Jets, mired in a six-year playoff drought, are in full-fledged rebuilding mode following a 5-11 season. Todd Bowles’ future with the team beyond 2017 remains in doubt. GM Mike Maccagnan appears to be on more solid ground, but none of the key decision makers is guaranteed to return beyond next season if the downward trend continues. The current Jets power structure calls for Maccagnan and Bowles to each report directly to AWoody Johnson. s a practical manner, Johnson would still be in the loop on pivotal organizational matters, even if he would be across the pond tending to more important things. When will Johnson get official word to head to London?

The fate of the Jets might lie with a Rex… again.