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Jets open to re-signing Josh McCown, but will he retire?

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Josh McCown 2.0?

The New York Jets would like to re-sign their starting quarterback, according to Todd Bowles, but that doesn't mean it will happen. As he said, "It's contingent on a lot of things."

McCown, who will be 39 next season, still hasn't committed to playing in 2018. That's the biggest variable. The Jets also have options, as they try to solve the puzzle of their perpetual quarterback quandary. They could acquire a veteran or draft a quarterback or both.

"Josh had a great year," Bowles said. "It would be great to have him back. It's business in this league. He has decisions to make, we have decisions to make. Hopefully, they can meet and we'll go from there."

McCown, who signed a one-year, $6 million contract last offseason, will hit free agency after a career year. In 13 starts, he set career highs for completions (267), yards (2,926) and touchdown passes (18). His 94.5 passer rating ranked 11th in the league. He broke his left (non-throwing) hand in the 14th game, and the offense essentially shut down for the remainder of the season.

In recent weeks, McCown talked about consulting with his family after the season on whether he should play another year. He wants to get into coaching, and he'd probably have immediate opportunities if he chose that path.

McCown hasn't talked to the media since his injury, and he wasn't made available on Monday. Bowles said he instituted a new rule this season that prohibits players on injured reserve from speaking to the media.