Spagnuolo talks to the Jets

The New York Jets interviewed New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo about their coaching vacancy Saturday.

Spagnuolo, one of the Jets’ top candidates, also met Thursday with Cleveland and Detroit about their openings, and was scheduled to talk to Denver on Saturday night.

The Jets spoke with current assistants Bill Callahan and Brian Schottenheimer on Friday in the first round of interviews since the team fired Eric Mangini on Monday.

The Jets wouldn’t be allowed to offer Spagnuolo a job until the Giants’ season ends. Spagnuolo, 49, has become a popular candidate because of the Giants’ success on defense the last two seasons.

Millen takes blame

Fired Detroit Lions president Matt Millen, the architect of the NFL’s first 0-16 team, says he’s responsible for its historic encounter with failure.

Appearing Saturday on NBC’s “Football Night in America,” Millen said he would have fired himself after the 2008 season. He said that being sacked after the third week cost the Lions and coach Rod Marinelli some needed stability and consistency.

Detroit went 31-84 under Millen, a Super Bowl-winning linebacker lured out of the broadcast booth by team owner William Clay Ford in 2001.

Vikings get sellout

Fans purchased more than 20,000 tickets to Minnesota’s playoff game over six days, assuring there will be no local TV blackout when the Vikings play host to the Philadelphia Eagles at the Metrodome today.

The NFL gave the Vikings two extensions, the second until Saturday -- 24 hours before kickoff -- after they sold about 5,000 seats from Thursday to Friday.

Only about 55% of the 55,000 season-ticket holders chose to buy playoff tickets, leaving the large supply.