Angel
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Shell may be viable option
Ken Whisenhunt chooses the Steelers and perhaps gives the ex-coach a shot.
By Jim Jenkins -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, February 10, 2006
The Raiders, it appears, are prepared to go back to a familiar face, Art Shell, rather than a new one, Ken Whisenhunt, for their head-coaching vacancy.
A day after interviewing for the job, Whisenhunt, the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive coordinator and supposedly the leading candidate, said Thursday he has decided to remain with the Super Bowl champions.
Speculation now focuses on Shell, the Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle who coached the Raiders from 1989 to 1994, currently has an NFL administrative position and interviewed with owner Al Davis last week.
Late Thursday, a Raiders spokesman said there were no immediate plans regarding other candidates beyond Whisenhunt to succeed Norv Turner, who was fired Jan. 3.
Shell, 59, is said to be attending a league meeting in Tampa, Fla., this week.
Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful, but a league source said something could develop quickly if Davis' interest is genuine in making the eight-time Pro Bowl player the only minority prospect to fill one of several recent head-coaching vacancies in the league.
Another prospective candidate, who has been contacted but not interviewed, is former New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel, 55, who coached quarterbacks for the Raiders in 1995 and is the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator.
The 43-year-old Whisenhunt was presumed to be Oakland's first choice. Talks reportedly hit a snag on issues of personnel control and, according to the Raiders, the former NFL tight end left the Bay Area without a contract offer.
"I liked Al and had a good visit," Whisenhunt told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette upon his return. "I was flattered to be considered. I just felt like I needed to come back here."
While Whisenhunt was not tendered an offer, evidently another former candidate, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino, was. The Raiders wouldn't confirm an ESPN report that said Petrino, 44, one of those interviewed early, was contacted this week about reconsidering his decision not to take the Oakland job.
Petrino, a former offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars, wasn't available for comment, but a spokesman for the Louisville athletic department would say only the coach's position on remaining in the college ranks has not changed.
The Raiders, who traditionally take their time making head-coaching decisions, are creating a dilemma for the next hire.
The all-important NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, the annual gathering of top draft-eligible players, begins Feb. 22. The event is one routinely attended by teams' head coaches and most of their staff members in addition to administrators.
Since Turner's departure, six assistant coaches from his tenure have left. The most recent to depart are assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, who will coach running backs for the New York Jets, and offensive-line coach Jim Colletto, hired by UCLA.
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan had his contract extended by Davis before the interview process was in full swing, an unusual move in that head coaches prefer to pick their staff.
Shell had a 54-38 record with the Raiders after replacing Mike Shanahan four games into the 1989 season but was fired after a 9-7 non-playoff finish in 1994. Shell later said he was the victim of discord among a few assistant coaches. Years later, Davis said he might have made a mistake letting Shell go.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14171873p-14999311c.html
Ken Whisenhunt chooses the Steelers and perhaps gives the ex-coach a shot.
By Jim Jenkins -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, February 10, 2006
The Raiders, it appears, are prepared to go back to a familiar face, Art Shell, rather than a new one, Ken Whisenhunt, for their head-coaching vacancy.
A day after interviewing for the job, Whisenhunt, the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive coordinator and supposedly the leading candidate, said Thursday he has decided to remain with the Super Bowl champions.
Speculation now focuses on Shell, the Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle who coached the Raiders from 1989 to 1994, currently has an NFL administrative position and interviewed with owner Al Davis last week.
Late Thursday, a Raiders spokesman said there were no immediate plans regarding other candidates beyond Whisenhunt to succeed Norv Turner, who was fired Jan. 3.
Shell, 59, is said to be attending a league meeting in Tampa, Fla., this week.
Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful, but a league source said something could develop quickly if Davis' interest is genuine in making the eight-time Pro Bowl player the only minority prospect to fill one of several recent head-coaching vacancies in the league.
Another prospective candidate, who has been contacted but not interviewed, is former New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel, 55, who coached quarterbacks for the Raiders in 1995 and is the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator.
The 43-year-old Whisenhunt was presumed to be Oakland's first choice. Talks reportedly hit a snag on issues of personnel control and, according to the Raiders, the former NFL tight end left the Bay Area without a contract offer.
"I liked Al and had a good visit," Whisenhunt told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette upon his return. "I was flattered to be considered. I just felt like I needed to come back here."
While Whisenhunt was not tendered an offer, evidently another former candidate, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino, was. The Raiders wouldn't confirm an ESPN report that said Petrino, 44, one of those interviewed early, was contacted this week about reconsidering his decision not to take the Oakland job.
Petrino, a former offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars, wasn't available for comment, but a spokesman for the Louisville athletic department would say only the coach's position on remaining in the college ranks has not changed.
The Raiders, who traditionally take their time making head-coaching decisions, are creating a dilemma for the next hire.
The all-important NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, the annual gathering of top draft-eligible players, begins Feb. 22. The event is one routinely attended by teams' head coaches and most of their staff members in addition to administrators.
Since Turner's departure, six assistant coaches from his tenure have left. The most recent to depart are assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, who will coach running backs for the New York Jets, and offensive-line coach Jim Colletto, hired by UCLA.
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan had his contract extended by Davis before the interview process was in full swing, an unusual move in that head coaches prefer to pick their staff.
Shell had a 54-38 record with the Raiders after replacing Mike Shanahan four games into the 1989 season but was fired after a 9-7 non-playoff finish in 1994. Shell later said he was the victim of discord among a few assistant coaches. Years later, Davis said he might have made a mistake letting Shell go.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14171873p-14999311c.html
....Do you think maybe they didn't want the job because of Al choosing the staff for them before they're hired?