Can We Talk?

After losing out on the Miami Dolphins head coaching opening, the Minnesota Vikings thought they dodged a bullet for next season by keeping defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. But, after being spurned by two of their top head coaching candidates, the Falcons are interviewing Frazier today for their continued coaching vacancy.

Just when we thought it was safe to assume Leslie Frazier would be back with the Vikings next year, the Falcons have thrown a potential wrench in the plan.

Frazier is scheduled to meet with the Falcons today after having two of their top three candidates spurn offers from the organization, according to ESPN. Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was offered the job Tuesday and turned it down to stay with the Cowboys for a $3 million-a-year deal that pays him almost as much as head coach Wade Phillips. Also this week, Jim Caldwell, the quarterbacks coach/assistant head coach for the Colts, withdrew his name from consideration after Colts owner Jim Irsay announced that when Tony Dungy retires, Caldwell will be promoted to the head coaching position.

Frazier, who interviewed with the Dolphins, is the seventh different candidate the Falcons have brought in for an interview, but the first new candidate since Jan. 6. The others include Garrett, Caldwell, new Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano, Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, Titans DC Jim Schwartz and Jaguars DC Mike Smith.

There is no timetable on the Falcons making their announcement, but considering that they already offered the position to someone, it’s clear Arthur Blank wants to get moving forward as soon as possible, since coaching staffs are currently being assembled with the Dolphins and Ravens.

SATURDAY NOTES
* Brooks Bollinger helped his former high school coach get a free pass to the Super Bowl. This week the NFL announced the High School Coach of the Year and gave the honor to Mike Berg of Grand Forks, N.D. Berg coached Grand Forks Central High School for 28 years before retiring in 2006. The award comes with a trip for two to the Super Bowl, $5,000 spending money and a $10,000 grant to the school’s football program. Almost 100 nominations from NFL players were received this year.
* The NFL lost one of its trailblazers Friday with the death of Georgia Frontiere at the age of 80. Frontiere became the first female owner of an NFL franchise following the death of her husband and Rams owner Caroll Rosenbloom due to a drowning in 1979. Frontiere, a gregarious woman who was married seven times, was beloved in St. Louis – her hometown – when she relocated the Rams there in 1995 after the city had lost the Cardinals.
* One coaching vacancy has been closed as the Ravens announced that John Harbaugh will be just the third coach in franchise history.
* Scott Linehan continues turning over his coaching staff. On Friday, he fired DB coach Willy Robinson and running backs assistant Wally Moses – bringing to four the number of assistant coaches let go since the Rams season ended with the second-worst record in the league.
* The Packers signed Mike McCarthy to a five-year, $20 million extension Friday. The formal announcement is expected Monday or Tuesday.
* Seahawks D-backs coach and former Falcons head coach Jim Mora Jr. pulled his name from consideration for the Redskins coaching vacancy, saying he wanted to stay put for family reasons.
* The Raiders signed former Viking fullback Adimchinobe Echemandu to a one-year deal Friday.
* The Buccaneers re-signed longtime defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin to a new contract Friday.