Falcons have interest in Carroll

[rbedgood]

Apparently the Falcons are pursuing Pete Carroll...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080109/...alcons_carroll

By CHARLES ODUM, AP Sports Writer
32 minutes ago



ATLANTA - The Atlanta Falcons are interested in Southern California coach Pete Carroll for their head coaching job.
A person familiar with the team's coaching situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the Falcons want to speak with Carroll, who is on vacation in Hawaii. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Falcons have not officially met with Carroll.
Carroll spoke with USC sports information director Tim Tessalone on Wednesday and told Tessalone there are no developments worthy of comment.
"He reiterated that to me this morning on the phone," Tessalone said.
Last week, Carroll told reporters his name would be mentioned in speculation for NFL jobs. Carroll said then he wouldn't fuel speculation by making comments.
"There's nothing going on, no reason to even talk about it," Carroll said last week.
Carroll did not return a message left on his cell phone Wednesday.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank is looking for a coach for the second straight year. After firing Jim Mora a year ago, he hired Louisville coach Bobby Petrino. But Petrino lasted just 13 games before quitting to become the coach at Arkansas.
The Falcons finished 4-12, including a 1-2 mark with interim coach Emmitt Thomas, in a season overshadowed by quarterback Michael Vick's indictment, guilty plea and sentencing to 23 months in federal prison for his role in an interstate dogfighting conspiracy.
Atlanta, also currently looking for a general manager, might be willing to offer Carroll control of player personnel decisions. That could be enough enticement for Carroll to talk with Blank or other team officials.
Former general manager Rich McKay was offered a two-year extension to remain as president through 2010.
Philadelphia general manager Tom Heckert interviewed with team officials Monday.
The Falcons have interviewed at least three coaching candidates: Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and two assistant head coaches, Jim Caldwell of Indianapolis and Tony Sparano of the Cowboys.
The Falcons plan to interview Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith and Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
Carroll has experience in the NFL as a head coach and as an assistant in addition to his tremendous success at USC.
Carroll, 56, was 6-10 in as coach of the New York Jets in 1994. He was 28-23 with a division title and two playoff appearances as coach of the New England Patriots from 1997-99.
He is 76-14 with two national championships in seven seasons at USC following an 11-2 record and No. 3 ranking this season. The Trojans capped their season with a 49-17 rout of Illinois in the Rose Bowl.

[hermhater]

That would be a major coup.

I wonder how seriously he is taking this.

[rbedgood]

It appears Carroll is at least contemplating the position as he had a phone conversation with Blank while on vacation in Hawaii...also the difference this year from years past, is Carroll is not stating he isn't interested as he has in the past...he is simply not "commenting".

(ESPN Story, some dupe information, but adds the conversation Carroll had)

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3188045
Southern California coach Pete Carroll is interested in the Falcons' head coach opening and spoke with Atlanta owner Arthur Blank via phone Wednesday, sources at the American Football Coaches Convention in Anaheim told ESPN's Joe Schad.
Blank, who has also been searching for a general mangager, was expected to offer full control of personnel decisions to Carroll, and the sources said that is what intrigues Carroll most. The coach is currently on vacation in Hawaii.
The Falcons' interest in talking to Carroll about their opening was first reported Tuesday night by ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli.
Carroll spoke with USC sports information director Tim Tessalone on Wednesday and reiterated the he "understands that his name is going to come up for NFL jobs, as it has in each of his past years here, but that he was not going to comment about NFL openings because it would just lead to speculation."

Carroll, who has previously been a head coach in the NFL with the New York Jets and New England Patriots, is the biggest name on the list of Atlanta candidates.


Carroll, 56, recently completed his seventh season at Southern California with a resounding victory over Illinois in the Rose Bowl. He has led the Trojans to two national championships and compiled a 76-14 record. The 14 defeats have been by an average of just 4.1 points.


Southern California was 11-2 this season and many observers felt that, had it not been for injuries, the Trojans might have vied for the national title. Carroll's .844 winning mark at Southern California is the best in the nation among active coaches with at least five seasons of experience.
Over the past few seasons, there has been rampant speculation that Carroll might be lured back to the NFL, but he has rebuffed all overtures to return to the pro game. Conventional wisdom is that Carroll would only consider an NFL job if he had full control over the football operation.


In his first NFL head coaching stint, Carroll lasted just one season with the Jets, taking the team to a 6-10 record in 1994. He coached the Patriots for three seasons, 1997-99, and was 28-23, with one division title and two playoff berths.
The Falcons suffered a bad experience this season with a coach hired from the college ranks, when Bobby Petrino, formerly of Louisville, resigned with three games remaining to fill the Arkansas vacancy. But unlike Petrino, who had been an NFL assistant for three seasons, Carroll has prior head coaching experience in the league and was an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for 12 years as well.

In the past, Carroll has listened to NFL interest from Miami, San Diego, San Francisco, Arizona and Houston.

Former general manager Rich McKay was offered a two-year extension to remain as president through 2010.
Philadelphia general manager Tom Heckert interviewed with team officials Monday.
The Falcons have interviewed at least three coaching candidates: Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and two assistant head coaches, Jim Caldwell of Indianapolis and Tony Sparano of the Cowboys.
The Falcons plan to interview Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith and Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

[hermhater]

That sounds like he might be considering it.

And the Chiefs sit here with the same old personnel.

Sigh.