AP:Blank sets guidelines for next moves

[TK]

Blank sets guidelines for next moves

GEORGE HENRY

Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank wants to interview some successful college coaches while he can.

Though Blank tried to put a different spin on the timing of Dan Reeves' dismissal, his move Wednesday was all about positioning. Blank's list of candidates likely will include coaches with NFL experience, but the Atlanta owner won't seek permission to interview them before the regular season ends.

On the other hand, if Blank requests meetings with high-profile college coaches like LSU's Nick Saban, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, Southern Cal's Pete Carroll and Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, he needs to act quickly.

"I didn't want a jump on everybody else, but obviously there were limits as to what you can do during the season," Blank said. "That's the reason we didn't need forever to do our work, because you can do a lot of the work. Certain people, you're free to talk to now. Others you can't, but you can do a lot of reference, a lot of work behind the scenes, and that's critical."

Blank will have Bobby Beathard, Ray Anderson and Ron Hill make contacts on his behalf as the Falcons begin their search. Beathard, a senior adviser to the owner since April 2002, worked previously as general manager in Washington and San Diego.

Anderson, the chief administrative officer who negotiates player contracts, is a former agent who represented coaches Tony Dungy, Herman Edwards, Brian Billick, Marvin Lewis, Jack Del Rio and Dennis Green. Hill, Atlanta's vice president of football operations, is in charge of player personnel.

"You don't want to be in a situation, I don't think, where you don't have time to do your research and be thoughtful and be organized and make a critical decision for the future of the franchise in the best possible way that you can," Blank said. "So that was more important."

Blank indicated Hall of Fame and former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, who paid $9 million to buy 1.67 percent of the Falcons in March 2002, isn't interested in the job. He indicated that Wade Phillips, Reeves' defensive coordinator and the Falcons' interim head coach, will be considered.

"Wade did not accept this responsibility of the last three games with any understanding whatsoever applied or otherwise that he would be considered, and that's the type of gentleman he is," Blank said. "He didn't ask the question and I didn't give him the answer, but certainly it's understood."

The need to hire a general manager remains a top priority for Blank, but not to the extent that he will postpone his search for a new coach.

Beathard joined the Falcons in a non-decision-making role following a failed attempt to lure former Ron Wolf out of retirement when the former Green Bay GM withdrew his name from consideration on March 19, 2002.

Blank's first choice for the job was Tampa Bay GM Rich McKay, who interviewed Feb. 14, 2002, the day after the Atlanta owner closed on his $545 million purchase of the club. He never made McKay an offer, though, with the Buccaneers still trying to reach terms that would allow Jon Gruden to leave Oakland and become their head coach.

McKay last month said he "categorically denies" having renewed interest in the Atlanta vacancy as his relationship with Gruden has soured and Tampa Bay struggled to a 6-7 record after winning the Super Bowl last season.

Blank refused to discuss whether he's had contact recently with McKay, who has four years left on his contract, but the owner maintained several times he will adhere to all NFL hiring and tampering guidelines.