When asked if he intended to retain offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, new Jets head coach Rex Ryanmade it sound as though the ball is in Schottenheimer’s court.

The NFL released the first official injury report for Super Bowl XLIII on Wednesday. With 10 full days before the Steelers and Cardinals take the field, there isn’t much to learn about the potential playing status of any players.

After interviewing for the Lions’ offensive coordinator job Monday, former Broncos wide receivers coach Jedd Fisch accepted a multi-year deal to become the offensive coordinator at the University of Minnesota.

Sometimes it’s difficult to ascertain what is fact and what is fiction in the land of the Oakland Raiders.

As the NFL Players Association continues paring down its candidates to succeed Gene Upshaw, the two names that continue to generate the most buzz are Trace Armstrong and Mike Kenn.

Many local columnists and bloggers are making pitches for potential free-agent LB Ray Lewis. But is it all for naught?

The 49ers have turned to former Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski in their search for a new offensive coordinator, after being turned down by Scott Linehan earlier this week. The San Jose Mercury News is reporting that the 49ers met with Jagodzinski on Tuesday at the Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Ala.

Amid published reports last week that the Chargers were weighing their options on his future, LaDainian Tomlinson responded Wednesday with a message on his personal Web site.

Matt Forte is coming off an incredible rookie season, totaling 63 receptions, 1,715 scrimmage yards and 12 total touchdowns. Numbers like that will make him a surefire first-round selection in all 2009 fantasy drafts. But will Forte see the same number of looks out of the backfield next season?

Maybe not.

If Rex Ryan cannot convince offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to stay with New York, he then plans to hire Bengals quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese as the replacement.

Antrel Rolle was able to glean some valuable information from former Super Bowl MVP Terrell Davis when he visited NFL Network’s Total Access set on Tuesday. That lesson — always wear comfortable shoes. Rolle was looking dapper in his dark suit and … black Chuck Taylors. Rolle said that he left his dress shoes in his car once he saw Davis walking around in some “ragged Nikes” on the set. You can’t get that information everywhere. Rolle took some time in the green room after his visit to answer some of the hot topics.

The NFL announced several changes to the 2009 Pro Bowl rosters on Tuesday, adding Dolphins rookie LT Jake Long, Titans QB Kerry Collins and Packers CB Al Harris as injury replacments.

The Rams introduced Steve Spagnuolo as their new head coach on Monday, signaling the start of a new era in St. Louis. Spagnuolo, a defensive mastermind who learned under Eagles coordinator Jim Johnson for eight seasons, was credited as a major contributor in the New York Giants’ improbable win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

Now that Stephen M. Ross officially has become the majority owner of the Miami Dolphins, closing on the purchase of an additional 45 percent of the team and Dolphin Stadium, the clock starts on Bill Parcells, Miami’s executive vice president of football operations.

The Tampa Tribune is reporting that Scott Linehan is a candidate to be the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator. Linehan is one of a handful of candidates that the paper is reporting includes Chiefs offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, Browns offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski and Eagles quarterbacks coach Pat Shurmur. Linehan, however, does not seem to be in a hurry to make a decision.