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Report: Tannenbaum is out

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum will not be back with the Jets next season according to a report from CBSSports.com.

Citing a league source, the report says Tannenbaum will be fired as soon as Monday and the Jets will enlist an executive search firm for a replacement.

A Jets spokesperson declined to comment on the report. Coach Rex Ryan is scheduled to conduct a press conference at 4:45 p.m. Monday, and although the general manager usually speaks, Tannenbaum is not on the team’s media itinerary.

Tannenbaum was widely speculated to get the ax this season, after a 6-10 season that saw a rotating band of wide receivers. The team had already put out feelers on replacements.

When Santonio Holmes went out early on with a Lisfranc injury, there didn’t appear to be a real backup plan, and quarterback Mark Sanchez struggled in the passing game.

The decision to bring in backup quarterback Tim Tebow also was a big-risk, low-reward move that did not work. Tebow was a distraction, didn’t challenge Sanchez on the field and didn’t provide a spark on offense in other roles.

The decision to extend Sanchez’s contract in the offseason means the team owes him $8.2 million next year no matter where he plays.

Tannenbaum, an attorney by trade, could be reassigned within the Jets organization for his cap skills. The Jets have had trouble with personnel decisions, however. In 2008, the team drafted Vernon Gholston with the sixth pick in the first round. The OLB/DE never recorded a sack and has been out of the NFL for nearly two seasons.

Rich Cimini contributed to this report.