Mangini retains Westhoff; silence reigns
BY KEN BERGER
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
January 21, 2006
DENVER -- The Jets' carousel of coaching confusion kept spinning Friday, with confirmation that Mike Westhoff will be retained as special-teams coach.
A person with knowledge of the situation said head coach Eric Mangini apparently has slapped a gag order on the assistants while he continues to assemble his staff.
Offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger's status remained a topic of speculation Friday. Attempts to reach Heimerdinger, who is unhappy about being retained, were unsuccessful.
The rest of the staff also was incommunicado, the first sign that Mangini has adopted the Bill Parcells-Bill Belichick policy of "one voice," with assistant coaches basically being off-limits to the media.
Westhoff's situation was resolved Friday after three days of meetings with Mangini. It is believed that Westhoff will receive a new contract -- his existing deal had only one year left -- and will keep some of his assistant head coach duties. But the circumstances were unclear because Westhoff and a team spokesman declined comment.
It is believed that Heimer.dinger, who was passed over for the head coaching position, wants to be freed from his contract, which has two years left, to pursue other opportunities. The Jets have refused.
Heimerdinger's long-term future with the team could be resolved once the Broncos' playoff run is over. Heimer.dinger, a college roommate of Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan, is the logical choice to succeed Gary Kubiak as Denver's offensive coordinator once Kubiak officially becomes the Texans' head coach.
If Heimerdinger ultimately leaves, Mangini appears to have targeted Browns offensive line coach Jeff Davidson as a possible coordinator.
_______
:thumb: bout time the Jets had a coach with testicles. its been 5 long years
BY KEN BERGER
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
January 21, 2006
DENVER -- The Jets' carousel of coaching confusion kept spinning Friday, with confirmation that Mike Westhoff will be retained as special-teams coach.
A person with knowledge of the situation said head coach Eric Mangini apparently has slapped a gag order on the assistants while he continues to assemble his staff.
Offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger's status remained a topic of speculation Friday. Attempts to reach Heimerdinger, who is unhappy about being retained, were unsuccessful.
The rest of the staff also was incommunicado, the first sign that Mangini has adopted the Bill Parcells-Bill Belichick policy of "one voice," with assistant coaches basically being off-limits to the media.
Westhoff's situation was resolved Friday after three days of meetings with Mangini. It is believed that Westhoff will receive a new contract -- his existing deal had only one year left -- and will keep some of his assistant head coach duties. But the circumstances were unclear because Westhoff and a team spokesman declined comment.
It is believed that Heimer.dinger, who was passed over for the head coaching position, wants to be freed from his contract, which has two years left, to pursue other opportunities. The Jets have refused.
Heimerdinger's long-term future with the team could be resolved once the Broncos' playoff run is over. Heimer.dinger, a college roommate of Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan, is the logical choice to succeed Gary Kubiak as Denver's offensive coordinator once Kubiak officially becomes the Texans' head coach.
If Heimerdinger ultimately leaves, Mangini appears to have targeted Browns offensive line coach Jeff Davidson as a possible coordinator.
_______
:thumb: bout time the Jets had a coach with testicles. its been 5 long years
