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Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders was the NFL's hottest coaching candidate on Tuesday. He spent five hours Monday interviewing for the Chiefs' job. He left Tuesday morning for an interview with the Vikings and he will go to Houston for the Texans' opening. He was contacted by the Lions, who want to interview him later this week. All of this should lead to him getting the Chiefs' job. Saunders has been with team president Carl Peterson longer than all but a handful of employees. Saunders was there with Marty Schottenheimer and spent the past five years as Dick Vermeil's offensive coordinator, leaving only for a short stint when Vermeil was head coach in St. Louis. With Gregg Williams pulling his name out of the head coaching mix by staying in Washington, Saunders seems to be a better option than Herman Edwards because there isn't any draft choice compensation involved.
Edwards too costly: If the situation was even and Herm Edwards weren't currently employed by the Jets as head coach, Edwards might be the Chiefs' next head coach. The problem is this isn't an equal world. Draft choice compensation to get Edwards might be too much. The Chiefs were willing to give a second- and third-round pick for Vermeil, but the circumstances were different. Peterson wanted to turn around the franchise and Vermeil did that. But this is now an in order roster.
Raiders lining up candidates: The Raiders made contact with Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress and former Saints coach Jim Haslett Tuesday. They will be in for interviews. The Raiders probably will look at Dolphins offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassell and maybe even Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski. There could be an outside chance the Raiders could look at former Browns coach Butch Davis, but he won't come cheap and that probably won't be an option for Al Davis.
Bills could be headed for makeover: One of the big debates between Bills coach Mike Mularkey and owner Ralph Wilson when the two met Tuesday was a few members of the coaching staff. Then they weren't on the same page on the reconfiguration of the front office. The meeting, which was held in Detroit, broke in the middle of the evening with a lot of uncertainty whether or not Mularkey would continue as coach. It's pretty clear the Bills will fire general manager Tom Donahoe on Wednesday. The fact that both sides were quiet could be a sign Mularkey is staying but with a completely different coaching staff.
Teams after Cameron: Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is up to four interviews. He has heard from the Texans, Lions, Chiefs and Rams. Cameron is one of the hottest names on the coaching market.
Martz, Sherman waiting: The phones have been initially slow for former head coaches Mike Martz and Mike Sherman. Martz will probably start getting hot next week. Al Davis' Raiders will be among several teams that will be interested in Martz. Sherman may take a while because most of the NFL is still stunned he was fired.
The Chiefs appear to be the most active during the first wave of Black Monday coaching interview calls. They made contact with Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, Commanders defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, and Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassel. They will have to wait until next week to talk to Williams because the Commanders are playing on Saturday. Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders is going to be interviewed and is expected to finish in the final three. There is still the possibility team president Carl Peterson might go after Herman Edwards -- the Chiefs reportedly plan to contact the Jets for permission to speak with Edwards -- but, because of tampering rules, Edwards might have to work out a trade compensation arrangement with the Jets if he were to accept a Kansas City offer.
More on searches: Steelers offensive line coach Russ Grimm is going to be a big player in the Detroit Lions' search once it begins. Interim coach Dick Jauron isn't expected to be retained. Grimm has always been a favorite of Lions president Matt Millen; some people think Grimm is the leading candidate. The Packers made contact with the Steelers and plan to interview Grimm over the weekend. Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress will be a player in the Packers' and the Vikings' searches, but don't be surprised if Jim Bates, the current Packers defensive coordinator, wins the job. Bates was told Monday he's going to get an interview and will be seriously considered to replace Mike Sherman. This could be a tricky one for general manager Ted Thompson; he'd like to find a way to keep Bates on staff, but Bates would probably leave if he doesn't replace Sherman.
• Jim Haslett's phone wasn't quiet Monday after he was fired by the Saints. The Lions are expected to set up an interview for later this week, possibly as early as Thursday. Haslett should hear something from the Lions on Tuesday. Haslett left the Saints with one year remaining on his contract at $3.2 million.
• The Houston Texans are hitting the coordinator trail hard for head coaching candidates to replace Dom Capers. Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray will interview with the team on Thursday. Cameron and Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak will be interviewed, as well. The Texans also are showing interest in Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski and Ken Whisenhunt, the offensive coordinator of the Steelers.
Edwards too costly: If the situation was even and Herm Edwards weren't currently employed by the Jets as head coach, Edwards might be the Chiefs' next head coach. The problem is this isn't an equal world. Draft choice compensation to get Edwards might be too much. The Chiefs were willing to give a second- and third-round pick for Vermeil, but the circumstances were different. Peterson wanted to turn around the franchise and Vermeil did that. But this is now an in order roster.
Raiders lining up candidates: The Raiders made contact with Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress and former Saints coach Jim Haslett Tuesday. They will be in for interviews. The Raiders probably will look at Dolphins offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassell and maybe even Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski. There could be an outside chance the Raiders could look at former Browns coach Butch Davis, but he won't come cheap and that probably won't be an option for Al Davis.
Bills could be headed for makeover: One of the big debates between Bills coach Mike Mularkey and owner Ralph Wilson when the two met Tuesday was a few members of the coaching staff. Then they weren't on the same page on the reconfiguration of the front office. The meeting, which was held in Detroit, broke in the middle of the evening with a lot of uncertainty whether or not Mularkey would continue as coach. It's pretty clear the Bills will fire general manager Tom Donahoe on Wednesday. The fact that both sides were quiet could be a sign Mularkey is staying but with a completely different coaching staff.
Teams after Cameron: Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is up to four interviews. He has heard from the Texans, Lions, Chiefs and Rams. Cameron is one of the hottest names on the coaching market.
Martz, Sherman waiting: The phones have been initially slow for former head coaches Mike Martz and Mike Sherman. Martz will probably start getting hot next week. Al Davis' Raiders will be among several teams that will be interested in Martz. Sherman may take a while because most of the NFL is still stunned he was fired.
The Chiefs appear to be the most active during the first wave of Black Monday coaching interview calls. They made contact with Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, Commanders defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, and Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassel. They will have to wait until next week to talk to Williams because the Commanders are playing on Saturday. Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders is going to be interviewed and is expected to finish in the final three. There is still the possibility team president Carl Peterson might go after Herman Edwards -- the Chiefs reportedly plan to contact the Jets for permission to speak with Edwards -- but, because of tampering rules, Edwards might have to work out a trade compensation arrangement with the Jets if he were to accept a Kansas City offer.
More on searches: Steelers offensive line coach Russ Grimm is going to be a big player in the Detroit Lions' search once it begins. Interim coach Dick Jauron isn't expected to be retained. Grimm has always been a favorite of Lions president Matt Millen; some people think Grimm is the leading candidate. The Packers made contact with the Steelers and plan to interview Grimm over the weekend. Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress will be a player in the Packers' and the Vikings' searches, but don't be surprised if Jim Bates, the current Packers defensive coordinator, wins the job. Bates was told Monday he's going to get an interview and will be seriously considered to replace Mike Sherman. This could be a tricky one for general manager Ted Thompson; he'd like to find a way to keep Bates on staff, but Bates would probably leave if he doesn't replace Sherman.
• Jim Haslett's phone wasn't quiet Monday after he was fired by the Saints. The Lions are expected to set up an interview for later this week, possibly as early as Thursday. Haslett should hear something from the Lions on Tuesday. Haslett left the Saints with one year remaining on his contract at $3.2 million.
• The Houston Texans are hitting the coordinator trail hard for head coaching candidates to replace Dom Capers. Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray will interview with the team on Thursday. Cameron and Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak will be interviewed, as well. The Texans also are showing interest in Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski and Ken Whisenhunt, the offensive coordinator of the Steelers.
