Mike Heimerdinger has been freed.
The Jets offensive coordinator was released from his contract yesterday, ending what has been a rather contentious and unnecessary week of uncertainty.
Heimerdinger had two years left on the three-year contract he signed with the Jets before last season. According to two sources, the Jets won’t have to pay any of the $2.3 million remaining on his contract, and Heimerdinger received his freedom to pursue other opportunities.
Neither Heimerdinger nor his agent returned calls yesterday.
There has been much speculation about the Broncos being interested in hiring Heimerdinger to replace their offensive coordinator, Gary Kubiak, who’s scheduled to be announced as the Texans’ new coach today.
As of last night, there had been no contact between the Broncos and Heimerdinger. It’s likely the Broncos are waiting for the Jets and Heimerdinger to part ways and for Kubiak to be officially announced.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan is a former college roommate and teammate of Heimerdinger’s at Eastern Illinois, and the two have worked together in Denver before.
On Tuesday, Shanahan seemed undecided about his search for an offensive coordinator.
“I’m not really sure,” Shanahan told the AP. “It could be quick. It could be a little bit later. I have a few different directions to go. I’m going to let a little time go by and find out what my options are.”
Heimerdinger, in his “interview” with new coach Eric Mangini, said he didn’t want to remain with the Jets because he was upset at having been passed over for the head-coaching job and he didn’t feel comfortable staying.
“I have great respect for Mike Heimerdinger as a football coach,” Mangini said yesterday in a statement released by the team. “Ultimately, we agreed that the best course of action would be for the Jets to go in a different direction. We wish him and his family well.”
One possible replacement for Heimerdinger is former Browns’ head coach and former Texans’ offensive coordinator Chris Palmer, who interviewed Friday. Steve Fairchild, the former Rams’ offensive coordinator who interviewed with the Jets on Tuesday, was hired by the Bills yesterday.
There’s another coach on Mangini’s staff who’s been treated like a prisoner, and that’s offensive line coach Doug Marrone.
Marrone, who didn’t return calls yesterday, was a part of Herman Edwards’ staff for the last five seasons.
Yet Marrone remains in limbo. He has one year left on his contract and is being held to that contract despite the fact that multiple sources have confirmed that former Miami offensive line coach Tony Wise has been offered the Jets’ offensive line job by Mangini.
“I know of two teams that want [Marrone], and they’re starting to panic,” one NFL source told The Post yesterday. “The jobs are filling up. What they’re doing to [Marrone] is ridiculous. My theory is it’s in spite for what happened with Herm. He’s given them five good years.”
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Jets’ LB Jonathan Vilma was named to replace Miami’s Zach Thomas in the Pro Bowl.
