clarinews@clarinet.com (DAVE RAFFO, UPI Sports Writer) (02/03/90)
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (UPI) -- New York Jets General Manager Dick Steinberg Friday admitted there was a ``sense of urgency'' in hiring a head coach and said NFL assistants Mike Holmgren, Bruce Coslet and Ted Plumb were still candidates. When Steinberg fired Joe Walton after the Jets' 4-12 season, he said he hoped to have a new coach by the end of January. He said Friday he hoped to have a coach by the middle of next week. Steinberg was ready to offer the job to George Perles last week, but Perles decided to stay at Michigan State as head coach and athletic director. ``We always said when it got down to the end of the month, there would be a sense of urgency,'' said Steinberg, speaking from the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. As the San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator, Holmgren emerged as a viable NFL head coaching candidate by helping the 49ers cruise through the postseason to a Super Bowl title. The Phoenix Cardinals also list Holmgren and Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Coslet as candidates for their vacant head coaching job. Plumb is the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator. Neither Holmgren, Coslet nor Plumb have been NFL head coaches. ``We have met with Mike Holmgren, more than once,'' Steinberg said. ``Also, I've seen some of the other guys, we're now working with a diminished list. Don't ask me how many. ``We're making progress, and we'd like to do something by mid-week.'' Steinberg said he also planned to talk to Plumb and Coslet again before making his choice. ``I'm being careful, sometimes you can construe a talk with a guy as propelling him into the No. 1 position,'' he said. ``Yes, we're going to talk to all of these guys. We've talked to some of them already, other than Mike.'' Steinberg said he discussed putting together a staff with each candidate and asked them how they would rebuild the Jets. Steinberg had to compile the Jets' Plan B list without a head coach. There were two surprises on the Jets' list announced Friday. They protected Freeman McNeil, a 31-year-old running back who makes $905,000 per year and lost his starting job to Johnny Hector last year; and protected Kyle Mackey over 34-year-old Pat Ryan as their No. 3 quarterback. ``We tried to originally come up with the list of the 37 most sought after of our players and we feel we had a chance to lose Freeman,'' Steinberg said. ``It didn't come down to Freeman versus anybody else as far as his importance to the team so we protected him.'' Steinberg said he protected Mackey over Ryan because he liked his potential and wanted a younger backup behind Ken O'Brien and Tony Eason. Mackey will be 27 next season. ``The guy has shown some potential,'' Steinberg said of Mackey, who started one game for the Jets last season. ``It's a judgment call. We don't know how much action he'll get.'' Steinberg said the Jets might take Ryan back if no other club signs him. Other veteran Jets left unprotected included wide receiver Wesley Walker and tackle Reggie McElroy.