Chargers Talking Contract With Oregon State’s Riley
Mike Riley, the Oregon State coach, has emerged as the front-runner to become coach of the San Diego Chargers.
A second meeting between Riley and the Chargers went into the night on Tuesday, but a team spokesman said no news conference had been scheduled for today.
“He’s a serious candidate, there’s no doubt about it,” said Dean Spanos, the team president. “He’s a great guy and everything. We’re talking to him. That’s where we’re at right now.”
Beathard said late Tuesday night that the two sides would begin contract talks today.
“We’ll wait and see tomorrow,” Beathard said. “It’s pretty premature to say anything. Obviously he’s a strong candidate. You never know until you get it done.”
When asked if Riley could be named coach by today, Beathard said: “I don’t know that. There’s so much to do, I hate to say.”
Riley couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday night.
But he spoke to reporters at the airports in Portland, Ore., and San Diego.
“I’ve know Bobby Beathard for a while, and obviously follow the league and the people within this organization, and I’m very interested,” Riley said after arriving in San Diego.
Riley compared the situation to when he left USC, where he was offensive coordinator, to take the Oregon State job in December 1996.
“It passed in front of my plate, and I took the opportunity,” he said. “If indeed this one does, I’ll have to make a decision about it. That’s all pretty good stuff, but it’s a little bit agonizing, too.”
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The Mike Holmgren whirlwind tour is headed for Seattle, Baltimore and Philadelphia as he searches for a team that will give him total control.
The Seahawks appear to be the strongest suitor for the Green Bay Packer coach, but he denied he was close to signing with them.
“We just finished our season Sunday and I really expected our season to last longer,” Holmgren said.
One city conspicuously missing from Holmgren’s travel itinerary is Cleveland. Brown President Carmen Policy, who worked with Holmgren in San Francisco, was fined $10,000 last month by the NFL for tampering after alluding to the coach during a civic luncheon. But the expansion team has not yet contacted Holmgren for a formal interview.
Holmgren, who said he didn’t expect interest from any other teams, will fly to Seattle today, Baltimore on Friday and Philadelphia on Sunday.
Holmgren might decide to stay in Green Bay and sign an extension that would make him the NFL’s highest-paid coach at about $4 million a season. The offer has been on the table since August.
Packer General Manager Ron Wolf said the Eagles were granted permission to interview quarterbacks coach Andy Reid about their head coaching vacancy.
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Injuries have hobbled the Miami Dolphin offensive and defensive lines, and their top receiver may miss Saturday’s playoff game at Denver.
O.J. McDuffie, who led the NFL in catches, was one of three starters to miss practice Tuesday.
McDuffie sprained his right foot in Saturday’s victory over the Buffalo Bills. Tight end Troy Drayton (sprained ankle) and tackle Richmond Webb (arm) also missed practice.
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Terrell Davis, the backbone of Denver’s defending NFL champions, was selected as the Associated Press offensive player of the year for the second time in three seasons.