Rivera could roll into Dallas
By MAC ENGEL
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
IRVING -- Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera's first choice is to be an NFL head coach. But he wouldn't reject a raise.
On the same day Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said no coach will be named until after the Super Bowl, Rivera's name popped up as a candidate for defensive coordinator on a possible Norv Turner staff.
Turner, the 49ers' offensive coordinator, remains the leading candidate to become head coach in Dallas.
One NFL source said Rivera would not rule out Dallas, but Rivera hopes to remain a candidate in the Cowboys' head coaching search. His contract with the Bears expires after the Super Bowl. The Bears have a short period of exclusive negotiating rights before Rivera becomes a "free agent."
The Cowboys can't interview a coach from the Bears' or Colts' staff until after the Super Bowl, which includes possible candidates Rivera and Colts assistant head coach/quarterbacks Jim Caldwell. There are no rules preventing Turner from talking to Rivera.
Jones said he might interview more candidates after he arrives in South Florida today for Super Bowl festivities.
Turner is scheduled to fly to Miami to be with his family, including his brother Ron, the Bears' offensive coordinator. San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach/defense Mike Singletary, who interviewed with Jones on Tuesday, is scheduled to be in Miami.
"We've got a good football team and I've got to get this right," Jones said. "We've got to make a good decision for the next coach.... I feel very good. We've spent a lot of time and I know our fans expect me to spend a lot of time in each interview. I've been very thorough. I'm very pleased with and very comfortable with where we are, but if I can, I don't want to leave a stone unturned here."
One stone Turner apparently didn't leave unturned was a defensive name to give Jones during their interview Sunday. Sources said the Cowboys pitched the idea of promoting secondary coach Todd Bowles to defensive coordinator.
Turner, however, has ties to Rivera. Rivera wanted to hire Turner as offensive coordinator had Rivera been offered the head coaching job in Green Bay in 2006.
Rivera would be expensive to add as defensive coordinator. Former Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who took the same position in Atlanta, made $1 million last season, and Rivera would likely require a similar figure. The going rate for top-notch defensive coordinators is $1.5 million to $2 million a year; Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams makes $2 million, and Dom Capers of the Miami Dolphins is reportedly making $1.5 million.
The addition of Rivera might require tweaking the Cowboys' 3-4 defense. Under former coach Bill Parcells, the Cowboys drafted and signed free agents that fit the 3-4 scheme. Rivera uses the 4-3 scheme, but did say the day Parcells retired that he feels he could coach the 3-4 and that one defense isn't drastically different than the other.
If the Cowboys don't offer Rivera the head coaching job, he could still enhance his résumé in Dallas. The thinking goes that as the coordinator for the defensive-oriented Lovie Smith, Rivera doesn't always receive the credit. Should he come to the Cowboys and have success with a defense that fell apart the final month of the season, he could boost his image to potential employers.
Cowboys lose assistant
Tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens, who spent one season with the Cowboys, accepted a job with the Arizona Cardinals. He will join former Cowboys assistant Todd Haley, who is the Cardinals' new offensive coordinator.
ONLINE: dallascowboys.com
IN THE KNOW
Updating the Cowboys' search
WHO'S HOT
Norv Turner, 49ers offensive coordinator
COOLING DOWN
Wade Phillips, Chargers defensive coordinator
Gary Gibbs, Saints defensive coordinator
WILD CARDS
Mike Singletary, 49ers assistant head coach/defense
Jason Garrett, Cowboys presumptive offensive coordinator
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
IRVING -- Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera's first choice is to be an NFL head coach. But he wouldn't reject a raise.
On the same day Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said no coach will be named until after the Super Bowl, Rivera's name popped up as a candidate for defensive coordinator on a possible Norv Turner staff.
Turner, the 49ers' offensive coordinator, remains the leading candidate to become head coach in Dallas.
One NFL source said Rivera would not rule out Dallas, but Rivera hopes to remain a candidate in the Cowboys' head coaching search. His contract with the Bears expires after the Super Bowl. The Bears have a short period of exclusive negotiating rights before Rivera becomes a "free agent."
The Cowboys can't interview a coach from the Bears' or Colts' staff until after the Super Bowl, which includes possible candidates Rivera and Colts assistant head coach/quarterbacks Jim Caldwell. There are no rules preventing Turner from talking to Rivera.
Jones said he might interview more candidates after he arrives in South Florida today for Super Bowl festivities.
Turner is scheduled to fly to Miami to be with his family, including his brother Ron, the Bears' offensive coordinator. San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach/defense Mike Singletary, who interviewed with Jones on Tuesday, is scheduled to be in Miami.
"We've got a good football team and I've got to get this right," Jones said. "We've got to make a good decision for the next coach.... I feel very good. We've spent a lot of time and I know our fans expect me to spend a lot of time in each interview. I've been very thorough. I'm very pleased with and very comfortable with where we are, but if I can, I don't want to leave a stone unturned here."
One stone Turner apparently didn't leave unturned was a defensive name to give Jones during their interview Sunday. Sources said the Cowboys pitched the idea of promoting secondary coach Todd Bowles to defensive coordinator.
Turner, however, has ties to Rivera. Rivera wanted to hire Turner as offensive coordinator had Rivera been offered the head coaching job in Green Bay in 2006.
Rivera would be expensive to add as defensive coordinator. Former Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who took the same position in Atlanta, made $1 million last season, and Rivera would likely require a similar figure. The going rate for top-notch defensive coordinators is $1.5 million to $2 million a year; Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams makes $2 million, and Dom Capers of the Miami Dolphins is reportedly making $1.5 million.
The addition of Rivera might require tweaking the Cowboys' 3-4 defense. Under former coach Bill Parcells, the Cowboys drafted and signed free agents that fit the 3-4 scheme. Rivera uses the 4-3 scheme, but did say the day Parcells retired that he feels he could coach the 3-4 and that one defense isn't drastically different than the other.
If the Cowboys don't offer Rivera the head coaching job, he could still enhance his résumé in Dallas. The thinking goes that as the coordinator for the defensive-oriented Lovie Smith, Rivera doesn't always receive the credit. Should he come to the Cowboys and have success with a defense that fell apart the final month of the season, he could boost his image to potential employers.
Cowboys lose assistant
Tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens, who spent one season with the Cowboys, accepted a job with the Arizona Cardinals. He will join former Cowboys assistant Todd Haley, who is the Cardinals' new offensive coordinator.
ONLINE: dallascowboys.com
IN THE KNOW
Updating the Cowboys' search
WHO'S HOT
Norv Turner, 49ers offensive coordinator
COOLING DOWN
Wade Phillips, Chargers defensive coordinator
Gary Gibbs, Saints defensive coordinator
WILD CARDS
Mike Singletary, 49ers assistant head coach/defense
Jason Garrett, Cowboys presumptive offensive coordinator
posted by The Gryphon at 6:51 PM
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