Jets’ soap opera continues around Sanchez

Associated Press

NEW YORK

The fallout from coach Rex Ryan’s Jets failing to make the playoffs is in full swing, with coaches leaving, some players taking shots at quarterback Mark Sanchez and others defending him.

In less than 24 hours, the coaching staff was shaken up with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer walking away, former Dolphins coach Tony Sparano replacing him, and a few assistants saying they won’t be back. Now the latest controversy involves the shaky status of Sanchez.

Some players say Sanchez lacks the work ethic and leadership skills to ever lead the Jets to the Super Bowl. And with a new offensive coordinator in charge, the window for Sanchez to do so might have gotten a lot smaller. Still, some teammates insist Sanchez is the right guy for the job.

Raiders

ALAMEDA, Calif.

Reggie McKenzie began his playing career as a linebacker with the Los Angeles Raiders in the 1980s.

He returns to the franchise as general manager after having been schooled for nearly two decades in the ways of the Green Bay Packers. It’s that model that he will try to replicate in Oakland as he aims to restore the Raiders to a level they haven’t reached during a nine-year playoff drought.

McKenzie signed his contract with the Raiders on Tuesday and immediately fired coach Hue Jackson. His next task will be to bring in a new coach that he hopes he can work with in a fashion similar to the relationships between Ron Wolf and Mike Holmgren and Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy that led to Super Bowl titles in Green Bay.

Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis.

Coach Mike McCarthy calls it a “punch in the heart,” briefly choking up with emotion about the death of Michael Philbin, the son of Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.

With Sunday’s divisional playoff game against the New York Giants to prepare for — and a Super Bowl repeat to strive for — real life has knocked the Packers back.

Philbin wasn’t with the team Wednesday, and will be away indefinitely as he and his family deal with the loss of Michael, whose body was recovered from an icy Wisconsin river on Monday.

McCarthy said he and the rest of his offensive assistant coaches are dividing up Philbin’s responsibilities and will continue to do so.