By Tim Graham
Now it's time for the Buffalo Bills to get coordinated.
The Bills have asked the New York Jets for permission to speak with defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, according to multiple reports.
Pettine's contract will expire at the end of the league year. He declined a chance to sign an extension with the Jets last month.
Pettine was Rex Ryan's hand-picked choice to run the defense when Ryan became Jets head coach in 2009. Ryan is considered the Jets' defensive mastermind, but Pettine -- with the help of all-world cornerback Darrelle Revis -- guided the 3-4 unit to top 10 finishes in total defense each year.
The Jets ranked first, third, fifth and eighth in yards allowed over the past four seasons.
Pettine and Ryan coached together on the Baltimore Ravens' staff. Ryan was defensiove coordinator, while Pettine coached outside linebackers.
New Bills coach Doug Marrone was noncommittal today when discussing whether he preferred a 3-4 or a 4-3 defense. He ran a 4-3 scheme at Syracuse, but many considered that to be defensive coordinator Scott Shafer's operation and not necessarily an indication of what Marrone might do.
