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          New York Jets

          Haley visiting Jets to interview

          • Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterJan 11, 2012, 08:45 AM ET
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              Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can follow him via Twitter @RichCimini.
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          UPDATE: Todd Haley's interview was pushed back a day. He will meet Thursday with team officials at the Florham Park facility. Also, the Jets announced the Tony Sparano hiring at noon.

          Former Chiefs coach Todd Haley is visiting the Jets on Wednesday to meet with Rex Ryan about a possible position on his coaching staff, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

          This makes sense in light of the Jets' decision to make Tony Sparano the offensive coordinator, replacing Brian Schottenheimer. (The team still hasn't confirmed the Sparano hire.)

          Sparano and Haley are from the Bill Parcells coaching tree and they worked together with the Cowboys, 2004 to 2006. Haley was the passing-game coordinator/wide receivers coach, and Sparano was the offensive-line coach in charge of the running game.

          Sparano has no background with quarterbacks, and that's why -- as I wrote Tuesday -- the Jets need to make a big splash with this hire because they need somebody who can fix Mark Sanchez.

          Haley, who began his coaching career with the Jets as a quality-control assistant in 1997, is a good offensive coach and put together a good body of work as the Cardinals' coordinator (2007-08). Of course, he did it with an old quarterback, Kurt Warner.

          Haley has a strong personality and has been known to clash with players. You wonder how that would work with WR Santonio Holmes.

          Haley also might have an opportunity to return to the Cards, so this isn't a slam-dunk. But, as Schefter reported, the Jets might try to entice him by giving him the title of assistant head coach. That might be appealing for a head coach who just got canned.