FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Rex Ryan expects Brian Schottenheimer to be running the New York Jets‘ offense again next season.

Unless, of course, the embattled offensive coordinator becomes a head coach elsewhere.

Schottenheimer has been widely criticized by fans and some media as the Jets‘ offense has struggled all season and quarterback Mark Sanchez has not progressed the way the team expected. Some reports have speculated that Schottenheimer’s job could be in serious jeopardy if the Jets fail to make the playoffs.

“I’ll say that, obviously, if he gets a head coaching job, then ‘See you later,’” Ryan said Friday. “I’ll be happy to see that. Do I expect him back? It’s probably 50-50 on that, because I think there is an opportunity for Brian to get a head coaching job this year. I thought it the first two years, but it wasn’t to be. He certainly will be a qualified applicant to be a head coach, that’s for sure.”

Schottenheimer has turned down a few interview opportunities in previous years to remain with the Jets, including Buffalo’s vacancy after the 2009 season. But with increasing criticism of the 27th-ranked offense and Schottenheimer’s play calling, he potentially could look elsewhere this time around.

Although Ryan mostly sidestepped the issue earlier in the week, Friday marked his most definitive show of support for Schottenheimer. When asked what would happen if Schottenheimer does not get a head coaching job this offseason, Ryan responded: “Then, I expect him back.”

Schottenheimer signed a two-year contract extension in the offseason that would keep him with the Jets through the 2013 season, and he said Thursday he would like to remain with the team.

“I’ve said all along, I love being here,” he said. “All I’m worried about is this weekend, because that is what I can control.”

The Jets (8-7) will play the Dolphins (5-10) in Miami on Sunday needing a win and plenty of help from other teams if they are to make the postseason for the third straight year.

Schottenheimer doesn’t think he needs his offense to have a great game to save his job, and he has taken similar heat at times in his previous five seasons with the Jets. But the public outcry against him has been stronger than ever — a Facebook page has been set up to support the cause — and owner Woody Johnson could potentially look to send a message if New York fails to reach the postseason after consecutive trips to the AFC title game.

Most players have publicly supported Schottenheimer, saying there’s plenty of blame to pass around for their subpar performance.

“We appreciate him being the type of guy to stand up in front of us and say, ‘You know what, guys? My mistake on that. That was a bad call by me,’” running back LaDainian Tomlinson said of Schottenheimer. “He’s done that plenty of times. So who are we to criticize? When I miss a block, that’s my own fault. I missed the block. We just have to hold each other accountable and have each other’s backs at all times.”

Schottenheimer, the son of former NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer, was surprisingly upbeat when he met with the media Thursday and insisted he wasn’t letting the criticism get to him.

“Rex and I talk about that all the time,” Schottenheimer said. “We learn so much about this game, just growing up around our fathers, that maybe it allows you to handle things like this a little bit better than most.”

Notes: LB Garrett McIntyre (knee) is questionable for Sunday’s game after being limited in practice. CB Antonio Cromartie (hamstring) and S Eric Smith (knee) also were limited, but Ryan says both will play. … S Jim Leonhard was in the locker room for the first time since surgery two weeks ago on the torn patellar tendon in his right knee that ended his season. He was on crutches and said his recovery would be up to six months. Leonhard, coming off his second straight serious season-ending injury, is due to become a free agent in March. “I’m 100 percent confident that I’m going to be playing football somewhere next year,” he said. “Obviously, with the history here, you’d like it to be here, but you never know.” Added Ryan: “A guy like Jimmy Leonhard, I expect that he will be able to come back. I don’t think he is through playing.” … The Jets announced their team awards, which included CB Darrelle Revis being named MVP by his teammates, Tomlinson selected “most inspirational” and TE Dustin Keller named the “Walter Payton Man Of The Year” for his extensive charity work.

John Munson/The Star-LedgerSantonio Holmes agreed to re-sign with the Jets.

Santonio Holmes agreed to re-sign with the New York Jets today, The Star-Ledger’s Jenny Vrentas reported.

Re-signing Holmes, who was acquired in a trade prior to last season, was the Jets’ top free-agent priority this offseason. Now, they have their sights on free-agent star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Gang Green also agreed on a four-year deal with right tackle Wayne Hunter.

NJ.com user joeheel comments:

If Tannenbaum pulls off the Asomugha deal, regardless of what happens with Edwards, he has got to be included in any discussions about the best GM’s in the NFL. Adding Asomugha to the team and resigning Holmes makes the Jets stronger than last year even with the (probable) loss of Edwards and Cromartie.

Respond to this in the comments section of the Star-Ledger story.

And NJ.com user Orangeian writes:

If Nnamdi becomes a Jet, I can see Tom Brady now, stomping off the field, cussing incessantly at another 3-and-out. The Jets inside defense better get its tackling technique down because the ball will be staying on the ground or coming across the middle all game.

Respond to this comment here and join the discussion in all of the stories on the Jets blog.

Should the lockout linger, New York Jets left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson is in jeopardy of losing his league-high $750,00 workout bonus, the New York Daily News reported Wednesday.

Ferguson, a Pro Bowl pick after the 2009 and 2010 seasons who signed a six-year, $60 million contract extension during the 2010 offseason, has remained even-keeled in spite of the situation.

“It’s really out of my hands,” he said. “I’ve done everything that I can do, so now you wait for the ruling and see what happens. None of us have a crystal ball to see how it all will play out.”

In the meantime, Ferguson has done what he typically does during the offseason — work out and stay in touch with his teammates.

“Obviously it’s more fun having my teammates there and having all that camaraderie, but individual workouts are not a loss,” Ferguson said. “I’ve had to work by myself at combines before and forced myself to work out alone all the way back to high school. You have to be self-motivated.”

Even though the National Football League is in the midst of a labor dispute that ultimately may be decided in the courtroom, that hasn’t changed the offseason routine for many players.

For former Massillon Tiger and University of Michigan standout Shawn Crable, the fact that NFL owners have locked players out — preventing them from using team facilities — hasn’t exactly thrown his workout schedule into chaos.

“I feel like I can do things I usually do in the offseason. Everybody trains, everybody works out, but going to the facility is what’s different now,” Crable said Tuesday night prior to addressing the Massillon basketball team as the guest speaker at its postseason banquet at Eagles 190. “You had the option to go to the facility in the past and now you don’t. You have to work out on your own to get ready for the season, if there is a season.

“I don’t take any time off or take any different attitude now than before. I work out on my normal schedule because the opportunity’s still coming and either you’re going to be ready for it or you’re not.”

In Crable’s case, his last opportunity came with the New York Jets after they signed him to their practice squad last Nov. 19, three days after he was waived by the New England Patriots. After seeing action in six games with the Patriots last season — recording four tackles and a half-sack — Crable didn’t play in any games down the stretch for the Jets.

Crable said he works out in Massillon while awaiting a resolution to the labor dispute. While the next step is a court hearing in Minneapolis on April 6, Crable is one of many players who are in limbo while the players and owners try to settle their differences.

“Now it’s just a tug-of-war between the two sides,” Crable said. “I don’t think anyone is going to give in any one area, but anything can happen when the lawyers and the legal system gets involved.

“It’s a situation where you’ve got to find a common ground. There’s some thing that would lighten things up for the owners, there’s some things that would lighten things up for the players. You have to find that common ground and end up playing football. But neither side is planning on getting bullied.”

Crable also touched on a handful of other topics before speaking to the Tigers and coach Matt Creamer, whom he played for during his four varsity seasons at Massillon.

• On his brief experience with the Jets: “I liked it. I liked the coaching, the atmosphere. I liked it a lot.”

• On outspoken Jets coach Rex Ryan: “He’s calm. He says a lot but he’s very calm, cool and confident.”

• On the change in culture from New England’s Bill Belichick to the New York Jets and Ryan: “Both coaches know their players. Both coaches have a difference in how they approach players and in the type of players they get. And they both know how to deal with the players they get. They do a good job with that and both programs are winning, so you can’t really knock them.”

While Crable is doing what he can to put himself in the best possible position to earn a job whenever football resumes, he wanted to impart a similar philosophy to the young Massillon basketball players.

“A big thing that players have to learn is persistence,” Crable said. “A lot of things don’t always go your way. A lot of situations you’re not in control of, but you are in control of yourself. How you prepare, how you play, your grades and things like that are all things you control. Players sometimes need to quit worrying about all the extra stuff and start worrying about the things they’re putting out there, the things they can control.”

By Joel Thorman – NFL Editor, SBNation.com

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Mar 1, 2011 - The New York Jets entered the offseason with the task of signing WR Santonio Holmes to a new contract. With the coming lockout, that task is considerably more difficult. So the Jets placed a first and third round restricted free agent tender on Holmes this week in the hopes of securing his rights for 2011.

The problem is that we don’t know what the rules will be in the next CBA between the players and owners. The current deal expires on Thursday night.

Currently, in the uncapped year, players with five or less years of service are restricted free agents. That’s the category Holmes falls under and it’s why the Jets were able to tender him. In the next deal, though, some people think the threshold for restricted free agency will be reverted back to three years. That would not cover Holmes.

So, as with everything relating to football right now, we have a lot more questions than answers. But, for now — or the next two days — the Jets will retain Holmes’ rights.

Check out Gang Green Nation for more on the news.