ESPN Backtracks Again: Cowher Out

ESPN has changed its story on the Jets and Bill Cowher once again. The former Steelers coach will not coach Gang Green in 2009.

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.

 

The fact somebody from the Jets is willing to go on record probably means hopes are dead for now. We will probably find out the reasons in the near future. Cowher seems happy with his job at CBS and the light work schedule that comes with it. It is entirely plausible he does not want to coach next season. If he lands elsewhere, the Jets probably were not willing to meet his demands and deserve a ton of criticism.

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.

Third, the Jets have a solid core of young talent uncharacteristic of a team searching for a coach. Most teams seeking Cowher changed their coach because of how terribly their organizations are run. This is an attractive job. Although ESPN will probably change its tune five more times before the Jets have a coach, this is disappointing news to say the least. Expect the team to turn its attention to Steve Spagnuolo.