ATLANTA -- New Oreleans Saints general manager Randy Mueller interviewed last weekend for the same post with the Atlanta Falcons, ESPN.com has learned.

It is a move approved by Saints owner Tom Benson, and perhaps a sign of alleged friction in the New Orleans front office.

Mueller, who has one year remaining on his contract, is at least the fourth executive in whom new Falcons owner Arthur Blank has expressed an interest as he begins the restructuring of the team's front office. Blank's purchase of the Falcons, for $545 million, was unanimously approved by the other NFL owners last Saturday.

The sale is expected to officially close by mid-February.

Wednesday, the Atlanta Falcons officially asked the St. Louis Rams for permission to talk with Charley Armey about taking over their personnel department and football operations, the Boston Globe reported. As of Wednesday night, the Rams had yet to respond, but they can refuse to allow Atlanta that opportunity because Armey has three years remaining on his contract.

The Falcons pursued Tampa Bay general manager Rich McKay, their first choice for the job, but he is apt to stay with the Bucs now that Bill Parcells will not be the head coach. Atlanta inquired about Denver college scouting director Ted Sundquist and Baltimore vice president of personnel Ozzie Newsome as well. The Broncos reacted by promoting Sundquist to general manager and Ravens owner Art Modell declined to allow Atlanta officials to talk to Newsome.

Blank reportedly would like to have a general manager in place by the middle of this month, and no later than March 1, when the league's free agency period begins.

Mueller is entering his third year as the Saints general manager and his salary of $650,000 is at the low end of the pay scale for such a job. Benson reiterated last week his intention to sign both Mueller and coach Jim Haslett to contract extensions, but has been saying that for a year. Since the Atlanta position would represent a lateral move for Mueller, the Saints were not compelled to permit him to speak to Blank.

But there are rumblings in New Orleans that, given the Saints' collapse in 2001, Benson would not mind reshuffling his own front office. Regarded as a playoff contender when the season began the Saints lost their last four games by an average of 40.0 points to finish at 7-9.

Len Pasquarelli is an ESPN.com senior writer.