By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Monday, Jan. 16 2006
The final phase of the Rams' coaching search apparently began Monday in Los
Angeles with a second interview for Miami offensive coordinator
Scott Linehan.
According to league sources, Linehan was on a plane Monday to meet with Rams
president John Shaw and president of football operations Jay Zygmunt in LA.
After holding a series of interviews in St. Louis last week, the second round
of interviews for the finalists apparently will be held on the West Coast.
San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and Chicago Bears
defensive coordinator Ron Rivera also are scheduled to get second interviews.
Barring a last-second hitch, the next head coach of the Rams should be named by
the end of this week.
With the Bears' elimination from the playoffs Sunday against the Carolina
Panthers, Rivera became free to interview with any team. He huddled with an
advisor Monday to prepare for his second interview with the Rams. Rivera isn't
expected to meet with Shaw and Zygmunt until Wednesday or Thursday.
Another team could be in the running for Rivera because Buffalo has expressed
interest in talking to him about its head-coaching position, which opened with
the resignation of Mike Mularkey.
Among the seven candidates who met with Shaw and Zygmunt, Linehan, 42, was the
frontrunner after the first round of interviews, with Rivera, 44, running
second. Cameron, 44, is a surprise candidate. He wasn't even mentioned until
late in the process. For several weeks, Shaw denied that Cameron was a
candidate.
Meanwhile, reports in New Orleans are that Dallas assistant head coach Sean
Payton is the favorite to replace ousted
Jim Haslett, with Cleveland offensive
coordinator Maurice Carthon a close second. Former Rams head coach Mike Martz
interviewed for the Saints' job on Friday and Saturday.
In New York, the Associated Press is reporting that New England defensive
coordinator Eric Mangini has accepted the Jets head-coaching job. Rams interim
head coach Joe Vitt interviewed with the Jets last week.
RamBill