Winslow Townson / AP

Things haven't exactly been cheery between New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini, right, and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick since Mangini left the Patriots in 2006.

While still on the Patriots payroll, Mangini — it’s believed — tried to convince players and coaches to accompany him to New York. Mangini — who named his second son Luke William in homage to Belichick (his third son is Zack Brett, in honor of Brett Favre) — was suddenly at odds with Belichick, the man who shepherded his career.

It was pedestrian passive aggressive stuff between the two men in 2006. Belichick wouldn’t say Mangini’s name in press conferences. Postgame handshakes were at first cold, then overtly and wordlessly affectionate. The Patriots got the better of the Jets on the field.

Then, in the first quarter of the 2007 season opener in New York, NFL security removed a Patriots employee from their sidelines. Spygate was born. Belichick’s legacy was tarnished. Mangini was labeled a rat. Tannenbaum, believed by some to be the one who got the NFL involved, became a reviled figure in Foxboro.

Which brings us to 2008. Parcells re-entered the picture. Happily he scooped up Pennington when New York went head-over-heels for Favre. And a new lower intensity rivalry was born between those who prefer Pennington’s smart, efficient style to Favre’s swashbuckling, risk-taking.

Parcells has worked his magic again, just as he did with the Giants, Patriots, Jets and Cowboys. He — along with Ireland and Sparano — have instilled the no-nonsense, do more with less, never beat yourself, style that has been his trademark. He’s got the Dolphins at 9-5.

Belichick’s resume is even more impressive than Parcells' by now. Three Super Bowl titles as head coach. The first 16-0 regular season. Even without Tom Brady, New England’s 9-5.

Which must cause great consternation for the Jets. They went all-in for 2008 by getting Favre and a fleet of other talented, experienced veterans. Then fortune broke their way when Brady’s ACL and MCL ripped in Week 1. And still, they find themselves at 9-5 as well, locked in a death struggle to win the AFC East? Not good.

And what are we looking at for the season’s final week? The most delicious, multi-layered battle imaginable. Pennington and Tuna’s Dolphins will play Favre and Mangini’s Jets in New York. The Patriots will play in Buffalo but keep in the back of their minds that their fortunes may rest on the outcome of the Jets and Dolphins. Who will New England be pulling for? Whatever’s best for them.

The Border War isn’t over. Actually, it’s now being fought on multiple fronts.

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