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Super Bowl options for Raiders
Offensive coordinators Haskell, Whisenhunt are interested in Oakland job
By Steve Corkran
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
The Raiders' patience in finding a coaching replacement for Norv Turner has cost them the likes of Al Saunders and Rod Marinelli.
At the same time, it is going to yield them a shot at landing the offensive coordinator of the Super Bowl champion.
Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Gil Haskell said Tuesday that he is interested in meeting with Raiders managing general partner Al Davis. Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, too, gave every indication that he would welcome an overture from the lone NFL team without a coach.
League rules prevent the Raiders from contacting either coach until after Sunday's Super Bowl. They had an opportunity to do so earlier in the playoffs but spent that time pursuing the likes of former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Saunders and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive line coach Marinelli.
Saunders signed with the Washington Redskins as an assistant coach, while Marinelli was named the Lions' coach. Also, former St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz informed the Raiders on Saturday that he isn't interested in their coaching vacancy two days after he interviewed for the position.
That leaves San Diego Chargers wide receivers coach James Lofton and Raiders quarterbacks coach John Shoop as the only candidates known to have interviewed in person who are still available. Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassel received a phone interview.
Haskell and Whisenhunt are considered two of the most attractive options for a team in need of a coach.
Haskell, 62, is in charge of the Seahawks' top-ranked offense (in terms of points per game). He is credited with the development of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and running back Shaun Alexander during his six seasons with the Seahawks.
Seattle averaged 28.2 points in its 16 regular-season games this season. By comparison, the Raiders scored more than 21 only three times and averaged only 18.1 overall.
Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren has lobbied on Haskell's behalf. However, Haskell has not received any interview requests this year.
"Mike pushed it," Haskell told reporters Tuesday in Detroit for the Super Bowl. "I really appreciate that. I've always wanted the opportunity. I'd love to talk (to the Raiders). No one's called. That's where it stands right now."
Whisenhunt, 43, is the mastermind behind a Pittsburgh offense that outplayed all three of its playoff opponents -- the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos.
On Tuesday, Whisenhunt praised the Raiders organization and sounded intrigued by the possibility of bolting the Steelers after the Super Bowl.
That's more than can be said of former Raiders coach Tom Flores. He said Tuesday that he has not been approached by Davis about returning to the sideline after an extended absence a la Dick Vermeil and Joe Gibbs.
"I haven't talked to anybody," Flores said when contacted at his Palm Springs-area residence. "I'm not interested in the job. If I were, I would've called them."
Flores coached the Raiders from 1979-87 and guided them to two Super Bowl titles, the only two Super Bowls won by an AFC team in seasons that started in the 1980s. He coached the Seahawks from 1992-94 but hasn't coached since.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/football/nfl/oakland_raiders/13762861.htm
Offensive coordinators Haskell, Whisenhunt are interested in Oakland job
By Steve Corkran
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
The Raiders' patience in finding a coaching replacement for Norv Turner has cost them the likes of Al Saunders and Rod Marinelli.
At the same time, it is going to yield them a shot at landing the offensive coordinator of the Super Bowl champion.
Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Gil Haskell said Tuesday that he is interested in meeting with Raiders managing general partner Al Davis. Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, too, gave every indication that he would welcome an overture from the lone NFL team without a coach.
League rules prevent the Raiders from contacting either coach until after Sunday's Super Bowl. They had an opportunity to do so earlier in the playoffs but spent that time pursuing the likes of former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Saunders and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive line coach Marinelli.
Saunders signed with the Washington Redskins as an assistant coach, while Marinelli was named the Lions' coach. Also, former St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz informed the Raiders on Saturday that he isn't interested in their coaching vacancy two days after he interviewed for the position.
That leaves San Diego Chargers wide receivers coach James Lofton and Raiders quarterbacks coach John Shoop as the only candidates known to have interviewed in person who are still available. Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassel received a phone interview.
Haskell and Whisenhunt are considered two of the most attractive options for a team in need of a coach.
Haskell, 62, is in charge of the Seahawks' top-ranked offense (in terms of points per game). He is credited with the development of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and running back Shaun Alexander during his six seasons with the Seahawks.
Seattle averaged 28.2 points in its 16 regular-season games this season. By comparison, the Raiders scored more than 21 only three times and averaged only 18.1 overall.
Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren has lobbied on Haskell's behalf. However, Haskell has not received any interview requests this year.
"Mike pushed it," Haskell told reporters Tuesday in Detroit for the Super Bowl. "I really appreciate that. I've always wanted the opportunity. I'd love to talk (to the Raiders). No one's called. That's where it stands right now."
Whisenhunt, 43, is the mastermind behind a Pittsburgh offense that outplayed all three of its playoff opponents -- the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos.
On Tuesday, Whisenhunt praised the Raiders organization and sounded intrigued by the possibility of bolting the Steelers after the Super Bowl.
That's more than can be said of former Raiders coach Tom Flores. He said Tuesday that he has not been approached by Davis about returning to the sideline after an extended absence a la Dick Vermeil and Joe Gibbs.
"I haven't talked to anybody," Flores said when contacted at his Palm Springs-area residence. "I'm not interested in the job. If I were, I would've called them."
Flores coached the Raiders from 1979-87 and guided them to two Super Bowl titles, the only two Super Bowls won by an AFC team in seasons that started in the 1980s. He coached the Seahawks from 1992-94 but hasn't coached since.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/football/nfl/oakland_raiders/13762861.htm