Ryan is undecided on Jets' starting quarterback

Mark Sanchez was once the face of the franchise, the quarterback expected to lead the New York Jets to a long-awaited Super Bowl appearance.

There were lofty comparisons to Joe Namath just two years ago. Now, Sanchez might not even be the starter anymore.

Rex Ryan is in quite the quarterback quandary, undecided on whether it will be Sanchez, Greg McElroy or Tim Tebow under center Sunday at Jacksonville.

"Well, I think right now," Ryan said Monday, "I definitely need a little more time to make that decision."

While it was widely thought Tebow would be the guy to eventually take Sanchez's job, McElroy made a strong case for himself in leading the Jets (5-7) to a 7-6 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Sanchez was pulled Sunday with 4 minutes, 48 seconds left in the third quarter, and McElroy came in and led the Jets to their only touchdown.

Ron Rivera isn't overly concerned with his tenuous job security, saying he is committed to playing younger players the next four weeks so he can prepare to coach them next season.

With the Carolina Panthers 3-9 and coming off a loss to the NFL-worst Kansas City Chiefs, Rivera is on the hot seat.

The coach says his goal is to win, but "at the same time, we've got to be able to do it with these young guys. If we don't play these guys, we'll go into next season with the same questions."

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh is sticking with Colin Kaepernick as his starter for now, as his team prepares for the Miami Dolphins.

A day after a 16-13 overtime loss at St. Louis, Harbaugh accepted the blame for the fourth-quarter pitch that was fumbled by Kaepernick and led to Janoris Jenkins' 2-yard fumble return for a touchdown and ensuing two-point conversion that tied the game.

Undrafted rookie free agent Don Barclay may not be Green Bay's answer at right tackle, but the Packers' coaching staff is at least entertaining that possibility.

The 23-year-old Barclay took over at the position after veteran T.J. Lang went down with a left ankle injury with 6:42 left in the first half of Sunday's 23-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.