It was unclear as of yesterday if Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was going to interview with the Bills this week for their vacant head coaching position.
According to two NFL sources, there’s some question if Schottenheimer will interview with the Bills at all, despite the fact that Buffalo has asked the Jets for permission to speak to him.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he says, ‘Thanks, but no thanks,’ ” to the Bills, one source told The Post yesterday.
Schottenheimer, who has interviewed with the Dolphins, Ravens and Jets for head-coaching jobs, said last week he was happier than he’s ever been at a job working under Rex Ryan. He was unavailable for comment yesterday but is scheduled to speak today.
LEON EXPECTS TO BE BACK NEXT YEAR
The Bills are allowed, by NFL rule, to speak to Schottenheimer this week, but if they don’t they likely would have to wait until after the Jets’ season.
One player hoping Schottenheimer stays is Mark Sanchez, calling him “instrumental” in his development.
“He’s taught me so much about playing in this league,” Sanchez said. “I think these last couple of weeks we’ve really started to grow together and this offense has really started working, so we’ve found a little bit of a formula. It’s been a great relationship all year.
“It’s difficult to think about [Schottenheimer leaving], but I try not to. You kind of block it out and keep playing and we’ll cross that bridge when we need to.”
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WR Braylon Edwards was excused from practice yesterday so he could be make his court appearance in Cleveland, stemming from the October nightclub altercation he allegedly was involved in.
Edwards pleaded no contest to aggravated assault. He received a suspended 180-day jail sentence and was fined $1,000.
According to an NFL spokesman, the league will review the matter under its personal conduct policy, though there is no concern of any potential discipline coming down before the end of this season.
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Jets CB Lito Sheppard also was excused from practice because his wife gave birth to a boy. CB Donald Strickland, who has missed the past two games with a quadriceps injury, said yesterday he expects to play Sunday. . . . LBs Bart Scott (ankle) and David Harris (ankle), DE Shaun Ellis (knee) and DT Howard Green (knee) were limited in practice but all are expected to play.
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Jets RB Leon Washington yesterday sounded upbeat about how the rehabilitation is going with his fractured leg.
“The way I’m improving right now, it’s looking really good,” he said. “I’ll be walking without crutches next week. I just look forward to when I can get out there and start jogging. I’ve got a long way before the [2010] season starts, so obviously I’m on pace to be there on opening game of the season.”
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Ryan was asked how he can be confident his defense can force Chargers QB Philip Rivers into a poor game when Rivers really hasn’t had a bad game this season, throwing 28 TDs and just nine INTs.
“It’s the due factor,” Ryan said. “He’s due [for a bad game], right? Surely to goodness, you can’t play a whole season and not have a bad day.”