Here’s giving Carroll the benefit of the doubt

PETE CARROLL told a news conference Tuesday upon his return to USC that he met with Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga for four hours in Costa Rica, liked what he heard about the Miami job and will take Huizenga’s next call if it comes.

“I’m kind of anxious to see what he does,” Carroll said.

He said the Miami job has all the elements he’s always talked about, and knows of no other NFL opportunity like the one being presented by Huizenga.

“He’s structured a program for the head coach that gives him the entire say from top to bottom,” Carroll said. “It’s a one-voice program.”

He went on to say, “[Huizenga] is an awesome guy.”

Carroll also said, “I’m thrilled to be here;” he intends to coach USC next season. He said his discussions with Huizenga only “strengthened his resolve,” knowing more than ever now he has a great situation at USC.

Confused? So were most of the reporters in attendance -- because given several chances to close the door on Huizenga and the Dolphins, Carroll declined, leaving open the possibility that he might accept the post if offered the job.

THIRTY MINUTES later, my cellphone rang. It was Carroll.

He said he heard I had a question. I had several.

He said, “I’m not going anywhere.”

I said, “Then why didn’t you say that at your news conference?”

“I thought I did,” Carroll said.

I explained to him that his remarks left the door open, and at best were contradictory. I said it was my impression that most of the reporters who walked away from that session left believing there was a real chance he might take the Miami job if given the chance.

“When you say this strengthens your resolve that you have the best situation at USC and then leave the door open to hear again from Huizenga -- that’s contradictory.”

“I’m not leaving USC,” Carroll said. “I’m telling you.”

“You mentioned during your news conference that [former Dolphins coach] Nick Saban changed his mind,” I said. “What’s to say Huizenga doesn’t call you at 10 tonight with everything you want in the way of control -- all the i’s dotted and all the t’s crossed? What’s to say you won’t change your mind and take that?”

“I’m telling you, I’m not going anywhere,” Carroll repeated.

“On a stack of 100 Bibles,” I said, and keeping in mind how many college coaches have flat-out lied recently, I thought 100 ought to do it, “you’re telling me you are not going to leave USC?”

“That’s what I’m telling you,” he said. “I’m not talking to anyone else tonight -- that’s it. You got it. I’m staying right here.”

DO YOU believe him?

I hope the next time I see him it’s not on ESPN speaking from behind a podium at Dolphins headquarters, but yes -- I do believe him.

I believe he was trying to be honest in answering all the questions thrown at him Tuesday, which meant not short-selling his keen interest in being challenged once again at the NFL level with the one thing he covets more than any other -- power.

I’m shocked, stunned and even a little outraged that he’d agree to entertain an NFL owner just days after emphatically suggesting there was nothing that could bring him back to the NFL. He explained that away by saying that for six years now he’s been saying the same thing, but I missed that part about waiting for the Miami job to open.

I believe him when he says it’s not about money, or even the lure of returning to the NFL to prove himself again. He knows, better than anyone after feeling his hands were tied in previous stints in New England and New York -- success in the NFL can be achieved only with ultimate control of an organization.

I believe he liked what he heard from Huizenga, fueling his competitive juices and giving him something new to get excited about. But I also believe he took a deeper look at the Dolphins, their future and the 24/7 grind it’s going to take to be successful, and concluded it wasn’t for him.

He’s a competitor, all right, so I wouldn’t be surprised to learn later he’s still holding the Miami door open because he’d like to know that in the end he beat out the other five or six candidates being considered.

I also wouldn’t be surprised to hear in the next day or two the job has been offered to Carroll -- giving him everything he could possibly want.

But I’ll take the man at his word and believe he’s already made the personal decision to turn down such an offer if it comes -- until shown otherwise.

SO I break my toe slipping on the kitchen floor at home, the wife finally cleaning the floor and catching me by surprise, and then Tuesday limp out to Heritage Hall.

Right away I cross paths with Mike Garrett, telling him he’s just the man I want to see, and he gets that look in his eyes like he’s a running back again.

He keeps going, saying he’s hungry, and since I see no good reason to work up a sweat chasing an impolite executive, I stopped limping after him.

So I wait for his return, knowing he’ll be stuffed, but again he breezes past me. I’ll tell you this -- the guy can still run away from people with the best of them.

“It looks to me like you’re afraid,” I tell him, and in return he offers me the most coherent quote I’ve gotten from him in more than a year. “No, I’m not,” he says.

Maybe he was in a hurry to call Norm Chow -- you know, just in case.

TODAY’S LAST word comes in e-mail from Casey John:

“Please don’t write about a family’s tragedy in your column. People die everyday. Comment on sport -- not the death of a father.”

You’re right; I probably should devote more attention to idiot sports fans.