The chief executive of the Seattle Seahawks is headed to California to meet with Pete Carroll, as the struggling team closes in on a deal with the charismatic coach at Southern California.
A Seahawks spokesman confirmed Saturday night that team CEO Tod Leiweke will fly to Los Angeles today to interview Carroll for the coaching position and that the talks could last into Monday morning.
The Seahawks still do not have an agreement despite widespread reports, but are closing in on a coaching contract, according to a league official with direct knowledge of Seattle's coaching search.
The official told the Associated Press on Saturday that the team is in "discussions" with Carroll and does not plan on giving him the additional title of president. The official added that the Seahawks will hire a general manager and coach separately.
"No, they do not have an agreement. They are not there," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Seahawks are not commenting on how far talks have progressed. "[Seattle] would not name him GM or president - for obvious reasons."
The last time the Seahawks gave a coach dual authority as a GM was in 1999, when they lured Mike Holmgren from the Green Bay Packers. By 2003, they had stripped Holmgren of the GM duties - and only after he was simply the coach did the franchise realize its finest seasons and make its only Super Bowl.
When asked whether Carroll will become the eighth coach in Seattle's 34-year history, the official said all signs point that way, just "not so fast" as has been reported.
Carroll coached the New York Jets and New England Patriots a decade ago and has spent the last nine years at USC. He is under consideration by a Seattle team that went 5-11 this season and fired coach Jim Mora on Friday after one miserable season.
BILLS: Running back Marshawn Lynch reportedly has been accused of stealing $20 from a police officer's wife.
The Buffalo News reported Saturday on its Web site that a complaint to police said Lynch took money from the woman last month at a restaurant in Hamburg, N.Y. The woman's husband, Buffalo Police Sgt. William Crawford, filed the complaint with Hamburg police a day after, but they delayed giving a statement to detectives until Wednesday.
The incident reportedly occurred Dec. 7.
JETS: New York was without punter Steve Weatherford for its playoff win over Cincinnati because he was sick.
Kicker Jay Feely filled in for Weatherford, punting seven times for an average of 31.4 yards and placing three punts inside the Bengals' 20-yard line.