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Monday was Sean Payton Day at Raiders headquarters in Alameda. Today is Maurice Carthon Day. At this rate, your day might be right around the corner.
So it goes as the Raiders interview replacement candidates for deposed coach
Bill Callahan, a process that reaches the two-week mark today and shows no signs
of ending before Groundhog Day.
Raiders team spokesman Artie Gigantino confirmed Payton, the Dallas Cowboys' assistant head coach/quarterbacks, spent a fair part of Monday interviewing with Raiders managing general partner Al Davis. Gigantino revealed little else other than that today Cowboys offensive coordinator Carthon is scheduled to become the fifth candidate interviewed. Tickets
Kansas City Chiefs assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Al Saunders was
the first person reported to have interviewed with Davis. That transpired 11
days ago.
Saunders' agent, Bob LaMonte, said Monday the Raiders have not contacted Saunders
about a follow-up interview. Even so, LaMonte said, he didn't expect to hear
from the Raiders until Saunders had a reasonable amount of time to decompress
after the Chiefs' season-ending loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
One local report said the Raiders are interested in interviewing Tennessee Titans
offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger sometime this week, after Carthon.
But a member of the Titans front office said the Raiders had not requested permission
to speak with Heimerdinger as of Monday night.
In other news, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reportedly remain interested in luring
away Raiders player personnel member Mike Lombardi.
Lombardi said Monday the Buccaneers haven't contacted the Raiders about the
prospect of interviewing him.
Speculation about Lombardi's future grew after the Buccaneers hired former Raiders
senior assistant Bruce Allen on Friday to help fill the void created by the
departure of general manager Rich McKay.
Several reports say the Buccaneers are waiting for director of player personnel
Tim Ruskell to decide whether he wants to remain with the franchise before making
a serious push for Lombardi.