ESPN.com has learned that the Miami Dolphins refused Spurrier's request to interview defensive coordinator Jim Bates for the job. ESPN.com reported Saturday that Spurrier received permission on Friday evening to meet with New York Jets secondary coach Bill Bradley.

Bates was the defensive coordinator at the University of Florida in 1990, Spurrier's first season with the Gators, before moving on. Bates has worked at Cleveland, Atlanta and Dallas in addition to Miami and his skills as a defensive strategist are highly regarded. Since he is under contract, the Dolphins were not obligated to grant the Washington request, and it is likely Bates would not have wanted to make a lateral move anyway.

There is an outside chance that Bates will interview for the head coaching vacancies in Tampa Bay and Indianapolis.

Spurrier met with Kurt Scottenheimer, younger brother of deposed coach Marty Schottenheimer, on Friday morning about the job. Kurt Schottenheimer served as coordinator in 2001. It was after their meeting that Spurrier sought permission for the Bradley interview.

Bradley, 54, played nine seasons as a safety in the NFL, with the Philadelphia Eagles (1969-76) and the St. Louis Cardinals (1977). He was a three-time Pro Bowl performer and led the league in interceptions in both 1971 (11) and 1972 (nine), and remains one of only two players in history to lead the NFL in pickoffs in consecutive years.

The former University of Texas star was a third-round draft choice in 1969.

He began his non-playing career as a personnel assistant with the San Antonio Gunslingers of the USFL in 1984 and then became the secondary coach for the league's Memphis Showboats a year later. The head coach of the Showboats was Pepper Rodgers, who is now a vice president for the Redskins, and he recommended Bradley to Spurrier.

Bradley's coaching career also includes stops at Texas (1987); Calgary (1988-90), Sacramento (1994), San Antonio (1995) and Toronto (1996-97) of the CFL; the San Antonio franchise in the World League (1991-92); and the Buffalo Bills (1998-2000).

The defensive coordinator position is the last major assistant coaching spot left to be filled by Spurrier.

The Redskins are likely to continue interviews this week for two key front office positions. It appears owner Dan Snyder has cooled on the idea of hiring a general manager and instead will separate the responsibilities typically a part of that position. Under the latest scenario, Snyder hopes to hire a vice president of administration and vice president of personnel.