Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Updated: 9:35 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012
Posted: 8:02 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012
Jeff Fisher might have looked like a lock to take the St. Louis Rams' head-coaching job over the Dolphins' offer. But two days after he finished his visit to St. Louis, neither team seemed to know which way he was leaning.
The Dolphins have been exploring other options since interviewing the former Tennessee Titans coach. On Tuesday, the Dolphins completed their visit in Davie with Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Last week, after Fisher's visit, the Dolphins interviewed Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.
Now the Rams are looking for other options, too. They are expected to meet Thursday with Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, according to The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Rams owner Stan Kroenke lives and works in Denver and can interview Allen while he prepares for Saturday's playoff game at New England.
The Rams also attempted to interview Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, but he removed his name from consideration Tuesday and said he will return to Cincinnati next season.
Fisher is believed to prefer the Rams over Miami for several reasons: their quarterback is former No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford; they have $45 million in salary-cap space coming available in 2013; they own the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft; and their chief operating officer is Kevin Demoff, the son of Fisher's agent.
But Fisher also reportedly was impressed by his visit with the Dolphins, during which he spent four hours with former NFL executive Carl Peterson, a confidant of owner Stephen Ross' who acted as host. Fisher was shuttled between the airport and Dolphins headquarters on Ross' helicopter and also met with the owner at the Breakers on Palm Beach.
Ross reportedly has vowed that he won't be out-bid for Fisher, who was set to be paid a $6.5 million salary by the Titans in 2011 until he was fired after 17-plus seasons as head coach.
The 6-10 Dolphins, who finished this past season on a 6-3 run, also could give Fisher an opportunity to win more quickly than he would with the Rams, who finished 2-14.
Fisher could be concerned about the potential for the Rams to eventually relocate to Los Angeles. He had to guide his team through a similar disruption when the Houston Oilers left for Tennessee.
He also could be taking his time to see if other options unfold. Another coaching job opened Tuesday when Oakland fired Hue Jackson after one season. The Raiders finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs in the final week.
New Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie, formerly the Packers' director of football operations for the past 18 seasons, is expected to target Packers linebackers coach/assistant head coach Winston Moss for the job. McKenzie also might consider Philbin.
Philbin's availability for a new job is unknown in the wake of his son's death. The body of his 21-year-old son was found Monday in a river in Oshkosh, Wis.
The Bengals' Zimmer was the fifth candidate to interview with the Dolphins, joining Fisher, Philbin, interim head coach Todd Bowles and Chicago Bears special teams coach Dave Toub. None has been a head coach but Zimmer, 55, is the most experienced.
Zimmer has been an NFL defensive coordinator for three teams, including Dallas (1994-2006), where he worked with Jeff Ireland, the Dolphins' general manager and former Cowboys executive. Zimmer also was defensive coordinator for Atlanta for one season.
In 12 years as a coordinator, his defenses have finished in the top-seven four times, with a No. 1 ranking in 2003 with Dallas.
The Dolphins might also have reached out to a high-profile college coach. A TV station in Eugene, Ore., said Miami contacted the agent for Ducks coach Chip Kelly but that nothing came of it.
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