12/30 — The Jets’ coaching search is officially under way and there has been an awful lot of speculation on Bill Cowher today.

John Clayton of ESPN.com reported this morning that the former Steelers head coach was not interested in the Jets’ vacancy because he wanted to bring in his own personnel director and the team wouldn't be open to that arrangement.

Then early this afternoon, ESPN.com reported that a high-ranking Jets official told Chris Mortensen that "the team is still planning to speak to Cowher about its vacant head coaching job. No time or place for the interview has been set, but the official says the Jets would be willing to do 'whatever is necessary' to land Cowher if he is truly interested in taking the job.”

Just to clarify the reporting, the Jets do indeed plan on speaking to Cowher about their open position. And while they intend to do “whatever is necessary” to find the right man, that doesn’t mean the sole focus of their search is on Cowher.

The team plans to talk to a number of strong candidates, one of whom is said to be Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who reportedly will be interviewed Saturday.

The Jets’ job is appealing for several reasons. Owner Woody Johnson just built a state-of-the-art training facility in Florham Park, N.J., the team will play one more season at the Meadowlands before opening up at a new beautiful venue in 2010, the Jets have seven Pro Bowl players this season and Johnson has continually shown a commitment to do whatever it takes to go out get the best possible talent available.

In addition to all those factors, ESPN reported that Cowher loves the New York market and two of his daughters are either going to school or working in the area.

Cowher, who resigned from the Steelers in January 2007, had a fabulous 15-year run in Pittsburgh. He compiled a 161-99-1 record in the ‘Burgh, leading the Steelers to the playoffs 10 times and a remarkable six AFC Championship Game appearances. He got his first championship ring following the 2005 campaign when the Steelers captured a trio of road games before dispatching Seattle in Super Bowl XL.

“I think Coach Cowher is a great coach," said Jets G Alan Faneca, who played his first 10 pro seasons in black and gold, "and if he decides to get back into coaching, he’ll be a good fit wherever he lands.”

The Jets promised a thorough search, so it should come as no surprise that they’ll hold at least some kind of discussions with Cowher.

“We will be very, very thorough," Johnson said, "and select somebody that can succeed Eric and build on the good foundation that he and people in management have built.”

Whoever is interviewed and ultimately gets the head coach's office, Johnson has made it  clear he believes in the separation of coach and GM duties. During his Monday news conference, the chairman/CEO said of having one man do both jobs:

"I’ve watched this, from a business standpoint and from a football standpoint. It’s too much. There’s no way that you can do it, in my opinion, and really do it, because you’re always relying on somebody else. You may think that you have the power, but you can’t make those discerning decisions. There’s just too much work to do and be a coach."

On Wednesday, Randy Lange and I will chat with NFL Network reporter Adam Schefter and get his insight on the coaching search. I’ll follow up that talk with a blog and you’ll be able to listen to an archive of our entire discussion at 3 p.m. on newyorkjets.com radio.