Higgins leaving Jets

Matt Higgins, the Jets' executive vice president of business operations, announced Tuesday that he is leaving the organization "to explore new entrepreneurial opportunities."

Higgins, 37, has been with the Jets since 2004 and was a close adviser to owner Woody Johnson. According to a story on the Jets' website, Higgins told Johnson late this past season that he would be leaving.

Higgins, a native of Queens, worked as press secretary during Rudy Giuliani's tenure as mayor and handled press relations before and after Sept. 11, 2001.

Bob Parente, the team's senior vice president of programming and media production, will assume Higgins' duties until a replacement is found.