National Football League

Jets hire Eagles' Mornhinweg as OC

Published Jan. 18, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

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It's Marty Mornhinweg's turn to fix the New York Jets' offense.

The Jets hired Mornhinweg as their offensive coordinator after he served in the same position the past seven years under Andy Reid with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mornhinweg, who replaced the fired Tony Sparano, was an assistant for 10 years with the Eagles and becomes the Jets' third offensive coordinator in as many seasons.

Sparano was fired after one season as New York finished 30th in overall offense. He replaced Brian Schottenheimer before last season, but couldn't jumpstart the running game, get starting quarterback Mark Sanchez to take the next step in his development or figure out a way to use Tim Tebow consistently or effectively.

Mornhinweg is expected to bring a more wide-open passing approach to the Jets, who have relied more often on a run-first ''Ground-and-Pound'' philosophy under Rex Ryan.

It is uncertain if Sanchez, owed $8.25 million in guarantees, or Tebow, expected to be traded or released, will remain with the team.

Figuring out the Jets' unsettled quarterback situation will be a major task for Mornhinweg, Ryan and newly hired general manager John Idzik.

Sanchez, the team's first-round pick in 2009, would cost the Jets a $17.1 million salary cap hit if they cut him. So, it would seem unlikely New York would do that - although they could try to trade him.

Tebow saw limited action after being expected to be a major part of the offense when he was acquired from Denver last March. The popular backup acknowledged at the end of the season that he was ''disappointed'' at his lack of use, and has yet to comment definitively on what he expects his future to hold.

With Mornhinweg's connection to the Eagles, there could be some thoughts that Michael Vick could follow him to the Jets if Philadelphia cuts him. But, newly hired Eagles coach Chip Kelly might want to keep Vick to run the read-option offense.

The 50-year-old Mornhinweg was previously the head coach of the Detroit Lions, and was also an assistant with San Francisco and Green Bay.

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