Jets coach
sent a game ball to former coach
after last weekend's playoff upset of the San Diego Chargers, the team that fired the father of New York's offensive coordinator following a 14-2 regular season.
said he was touched when he learned of his boss' gesture Tuesday - and joked that it didn't even occur to him to do it.
Marty Schottenheimer was fired in February 2007 after the Chargers lost their first playoff game despite having the NFL's best record that season. He had 35 wins and two AFC West titles in his last three seasons in San Diego, where his son was quarterbacks coach from 2002 to 2005.
In other Jets news, defensive end
has returned to practice on a limited basis with a broken left hand.
Ellis, one of the Jets' top pass rushers, was injured early in the team's victory at San Diego. He missed practice Wednesday but was on the field in a cast Thursday and is expected to play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC title game.
Safety
bumped his knee and was limited during practice, as were linebackers
(left ankle), a former Raven, and
(right ankle). All are expected to play.
Coach
has a new two-year contract, a deal indicating that owner
is encouraged yet not satisfied. "This contract represents that," Jones said after signing Phillips through the 2011 season. "Two years in the NFL is an eternity, but it has to be urgent and it has to be addressed as if there is no tomorrow. ... It addresses the urgency of where we want to go from here."
was named offensive line coach, replacing the retired
. The team also added two other assistants to coach
's staff: defensive line coach
and defensive backs coach
.
Defensive tackle
and defensive end
missed their second consecutive practice because of knee troubles. Wide receiver-kick returner
( migraine headache) also was not present.