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Will Lovie Smith be the Jets' head coach next season?

(Jerry Lai/US Presswire)

Rex Ryan will be the Jets' head coach for the next two games. Beyond that, his status is uncertain. If John Idzik does choose to remove Ryan from the position he has held until 2009, the general manager will begin his second season in charge with a coaching search.

The New York Post speculated on five candidates for the job. Most have connections to Idzik or his top assistant, Rod Graves. Some have head coaching experience in the NFL. Others don't.

One name that NJ.com readers have mentioned a couple times -- that of Pete Carmichael Jr., the New Orleans Saints' offensive coordinator -- is not on this list.

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If anyone would know, Mike Westhoff would. Last season, it was Westhoff calling special teams plays for the Jets. Now he is a radio analyst for ESPN.

The former coach said in an interview posted on ESPN's website Tuesday that the punt formation the Jets ran in Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers that resulted in a blocked punt was not necessarily risky -- even if they had shown it to the Panthers twice earlier in the game.

Instead, the blocked punt was due to poor technique and limited personnel, according to Westhoff. Zach Sudfeld, the backup tight end, should have dropped to block rather than fire out onto the player lined up in front of him, Westhoff said. As a result, a lane opened up for the Panthers' Jason Williams to charge in on punter Ryan Quigley.

Sudfeld was lined up as left guard on the play, not an ideal spot considering his reputation does not include strong blocking skills. The Jets formerly had Konrad Reuland in Sudfeld's spot before a knee injury ended the blocking tight end's season.

"The Jets are limited in personnel," Westhoff told ESPN. "And I'm being kind."

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FROM THE STAR-LEDGER AND NJ.COM

-- Will another miserable offensive season doom Rex Ryan?

-- A breakdown of Geno Smith's interception from Sunday's game.

-- An archived Jets chat from Tuesday featuring yours truly.

-- If power rankings are your thing ...

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AROUND NEW YORK

-- Another Jets player said he is in favor of Ryan returning as head coach.

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FROM CLEVELAND

-- Joe Haden, a Cleveland Browns cornerback, thinks the team has taken steps forward this season.

-- The Browns released two players Tuesday from injured reserve.

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AROUND THE NFL

-- A wrongful death suit has been filed against Aaron Hernandez, the former New England Patriots tight end charged with murder.