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Got this from the Chicago Sun Times
Rivera in demand for coaching jobs; Turner talking, too
January 5, 2007
BY BRAD BIGGS Staff Reporter
The suitors keep lining up for Ron Rivera, while Ron Turner also is drawing some interest.
Rivera, the Bears' defensive coordinator, was back at practice Thursday at Halas Hall but will meet with the Atlanta Falcons today and is expected to visit with the Miami Dolphins on Saturday as those teams work to fill their head-coaching vacancies.
And the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to be granted permission to meet with Rivera after Bill Cowher told his assistants Thursday that he is stepping down after 15 seasons. Rivera could meet with the Steelers on Sunday or after the Bears' season ends.
The Dolphins also received permission to interview Turner, the Bears' offensive coordinator and a former head coach at Illinois and San Jose State.
''I'm flattered that they would have some interest in me,'' Turner told the Bears for a story on the team's Web site. ''My ultimate goal is to be a head coach in the [NFL].
''I feel that through the years of being a head coach at the collegiate level and an assistant at this level and being with somebody like Lovie Smith, who's taught me a great deal, that I'm prepared for it and ready and anxious to go talk to them.''
As for Rivera, his interview with the Arizona Cardinals went so well Wednesday, it exceeded the time he expected to chat with vice president Michael Bidwill and personnel man Rod Graves, who formerly worked for the Bears.
''I had a good conversation,'' Rivera said. ''They had fair questions, and I thought it went well. They asked mostly about philosophy and handling certain situations.''
As is the case with every defensive coach, those questions focused primarily on his vision for the Cardinals' offense and a plan for second-year quarterback Matt Leinart.
''Protect the quarterback first,'' Rivera said. ''And to protect the quarterback means you've got to be a smashmouth, physical team.''
The Cardinals lack the primary ingredient to do that with a woeful offensive line, but the skill players are in place with wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin and running back Edgerrin James.
The Bears could end up losing more than Rivera. Quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson is known to have been Rivera's choice as an offensive coordinator when he interviewed with St. Louis and Green Bay last season, and it's believed that Rivera would take Wilson with him to the Cardinals if he gets that job.
Wilson remains under contract to the Bears, but Smith has said he is all for the promotion of assistants on his staff. Teams do not have to grant permission for assistants to speak to other clubs unless they are being considered for a head-coaching position. Rivera said he believes the Falcons are ''a couple players away'' from returning to contention in the NFC, but he didn't want to reveal his strategy. The Falcons met with Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt on Thursday, and Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm are considered favorites to succeed Cowher in Pittsburgh.
Arizona interviewed former Packers head coach Mike Sherman on Thursday. Whisenhunt will follow today, and the Cardinals have plans to meet with San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow and Grimm.
Rivera in demand for coaching jobs; Turner talking, too
January 5, 2007
BY BRAD BIGGS Staff Reporter
The suitors keep lining up for Ron Rivera, while Ron Turner also is drawing some interest.
Rivera, the Bears' defensive coordinator, was back at practice Thursday at Halas Hall but will meet with the Atlanta Falcons today and is expected to visit with the Miami Dolphins on Saturday as those teams work to fill their head-coaching vacancies.
And the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to be granted permission to meet with Rivera after Bill Cowher told his assistants Thursday that he is stepping down after 15 seasons. Rivera could meet with the Steelers on Sunday or after the Bears' season ends.
The Dolphins also received permission to interview Turner, the Bears' offensive coordinator and a former head coach at Illinois and San Jose State.
''I'm flattered that they would have some interest in me,'' Turner told the Bears for a story on the team's Web site. ''My ultimate goal is to be a head coach in the [NFL].
''I feel that through the years of being a head coach at the collegiate level and an assistant at this level and being with somebody like Lovie Smith, who's taught me a great deal, that I'm prepared for it and ready and anxious to go talk to them.''
As for Rivera, his interview with the Arizona Cardinals went so well Wednesday, it exceeded the time he expected to chat with vice president Michael Bidwill and personnel man Rod Graves, who formerly worked for the Bears.
''I had a good conversation,'' Rivera said. ''They had fair questions, and I thought it went well. They asked mostly about philosophy and handling certain situations.''
As is the case with every defensive coach, those questions focused primarily on his vision for the Cardinals' offense and a plan for second-year quarterback Matt Leinart.
''Protect the quarterback first,'' Rivera said. ''And to protect the quarterback means you've got to be a smashmouth, physical team.''
The Cardinals lack the primary ingredient to do that with a woeful offensive line, but the skill players are in place with wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin and running back Edgerrin James.
The Bears could end up losing more than Rivera. Quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson is known to have been Rivera's choice as an offensive coordinator when he interviewed with St. Louis and Green Bay last season, and it's believed that Rivera would take Wilson with him to the Cardinals if he gets that job.
Wilson remains under contract to the Bears, but Smith has said he is all for the promotion of assistants on his staff. Teams do not have to grant permission for assistants to speak to other clubs unless they are being considered for a head-coaching position. Rivera said he believes the Falcons are ''a couple players away'' from returning to contention in the NFC, but he didn't want to reveal his strategy. The Falcons met with Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt on Thursday, and Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm are considered favorites to succeed Cowher in Pittsburgh.
Arizona interviewed former Packers head coach Mike Sherman on Thursday. Whisenhunt will follow today, and the Cardinals have plans to meet with San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow and Grimm.
