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Love Games!
Cards' coach search begins
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 4, 2007 12:00 AM
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The Cardinals kicked off a weeklong schedule of interviews a day earlier than expected, and they didn't have to travel to do it.
Clancy Pendergast, the defensive coordinator under Dennis Green the past three seasons, interviewed Tuesday. Cardinals officials didn't announce his interview as they did those of other candidates. Michael Bidwill, the team's vice president and general counsel, and Rod Graves, vice president for football operations, were not available for comment Wednesday.
Bidwill and Graves spent Wednesday in Chicago interviewing Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.
Graves and Bidwill will crisscross the country interviewing candidates this week. They are scheduled to meet with former Packers coach Mike Sherman today in Tempe, then interview Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt Friday in Tempe.
They'll spend the weekend interviewing two coaches with teams in the playoffs: They'll meet with Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron Saturday in San Diego and then fly to Indianapolis to meet with Colts assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell on Sunday.
They'll return to the Valley to interview Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow on Monday. Russ Grimm, the Steelers assistant head coach, likely will interview on Tuesday.
Jim Bates, former defensive coordinator in Miami and Green Bay, was reported to be a candidate for the job. But it's believed there is more interest on his part than the Cardinals'.
The Cardinals could face additional competition for candidates in the coming days. Miami is looking for a coach after Nick Saban left for Alabama on Wednesday, and Pittsburgh's Bill Cowher could depart by next week.
Both Grimm and Whisenhunt will be candidates for the Steelers' job.
There is speculation that Giants coach Tom Coughlin could be fired if his team loses in the first round of the playoffs.
The Cardinals have a much larger pool of candidates than they did three years ago when they hired Green, who was fired Monday. Then, they interviewed four coaches: Green, former Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson and Jim Fassel, the former Giants coach.
Fassel so far hasn't surfaced as a candidate, but he could be a fit given his reputation for coaching offense and developing young quarterbacks.
One key facet of the Cardinals interviewing process will be how a candidate plans to build around quarterback Matt Leinart, a rookie last season.
Of the seven candidates who have interviews scheduled, Rivera is the only one with a defensive background. So one of his challenges in getting the job will be convincing the Cardinals that he can develop a young quarterback.
Graves has known Rivera since 1984, when Graves joined the Bears as a scout. Rivera played linebacker for the Bears from 1984 to 1992 and was a member of Chicago's 1985 team that won the Super Bowl.
Rivera also is expected to interview with the Falcons, who fired coach Jim Mora.
Rivera has an impressive coaching resume, although he never has been a head coach.
He was linebackers coach in Philadelphia for five seasons (1999-2003), where he worked under Johnson, considered one of the best in the game.
In Rivera's final three seasons in Philadelphia, the Eagles advanced to the NFC Championship game.
"I think (Rivera) will make an excellent head football coach," said Chicago coach Lovie Smith.
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Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 4, 2007 12:00 AM
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
The Cardinals kicked off a weeklong schedule of interviews a day earlier than expected, and they didn't have to travel to do it.
Clancy Pendergast, the defensive coordinator under Dennis Green the past three seasons, interviewed Tuesday. Cardinals officials didn't announce his interview as they did those of other candidates. Michael Bidwill, the team's vice president and general counsel, and Rod Graves, vice president for football operations, were not available for comment Wednesday.
Bidwill and Graves spent Wednesday in Chicago interviewing Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.
Graves and Bidwill will crisscross the country interviewing candidates this week. They are scheduled to meet with former Packers coach Mike Sherman today in Tempe, then interview Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt Friday in Tempe.
They'll spend the weekend interviewing two coaches with teams in the playoffs: They'll meet with Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron Saturday in San Diego and then fly to Indianapolis to meet with Colts assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell on Sunday.
They'll return to the Valley to interview Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow on Monday. Russ Grimm, the Steelers assistant head coach, likely will interview on Tuesday.
Jim Bates, former defensive coordinator in Miami and Green Bay, was reported to be a candidate for the job. But it's believed there is more interest on his part than the Cardinals'.
The Cardinals could face additional competition for candidates in the coming days. Miami is looking for a coach after Nick Saban left for Alabama on Wednesday, and Pittsburgh's Bill Cowher could depart by next week.
Both Grimm and Whisenhunt will be candidates for the Steelers' job.
There is speculation that Giants coach Tom Coughlin could be fired if his team loses in the first round of the playoffs.
The Cardinals have a much larger pool of candidates than they did three years ago when they hired Green, who was fired Monday. Then, they interviewed four coaches: Green, former Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson and Jim Fassel, the former Giants coach.
Fassel so far hasn't surfaced as a candidate, but he could be a fit given his reputation for coaching offense and developing young quarterbacks.
One key facet of the Cardinals interviewing process will be how a candidate plans to build around quarterback Matt Leinart, a rookie last season.
Of the seven candidates who have interviews scheduled, Rivera is the only one with a defensive background. So one of his challenges in getting the job will be convincing the Cardinals that he can develop a young quarterback.
Graves has known Rivera since 1984, when Graves joined the Bears as a scout. Rivera played linebacker for the Bears from 1984 to 1992 and was a member of Chicago's 1985 team that won the Super Bowl.
Rivera also is expected to interview with the Falcons, who fired coach Jim Mora.
Rivera has an impressive coaching resume, although he never has been a head coach.
He was linebackers coach in Philadelphia for five seasons (1999-2003), where he worked under Johnson, considered one of the best in the game.
In Rivera's final three seasons in Philadelphia, the Eagles advanced to the NFC Championship game.
"I think (Rivera) will make an excellent head football coach," said Chicago coach Lovie Smith.
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