CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Spurned by Steve Spurrier, the Carolina
Panthers are now looking elsewhere in their search for a new coach.
The Panthers tried to get Spurrier, meeting with him once last
week in Florida, but he opted to take over the Washington Redskins.
So Carolina turned its focus to New York Giants defensive
coordinator John Fox, who met with team officials Monday for the
chance to replace George Seifert. The Panthers also are believed to
have interest in Tony Dungy, who was fired Monday by Tampa Bay, and
LSU coach Nick Saban.
Fox said he didn't mind being the second prospect the Panthers
have talked to and if hired, their obvious second choice to
Spurrier.
"Not at all, I've been second more than I'd like to remember,"
he said.
Fox was a hot candidate for head coaching jobs a year ago, but
missed several opportunities to interview for vacancies while he
went to the Super Bowl with the Giants. Coaches are not permitted
to talk with other teams while their current teams are still
playing.
Fox, who molded the Giants' defense that helped get them to the
Super Bowl last season, was confident he could also improve the
Panthers. Carolina set an NFL record this year with 15 straight
losses in a season and ranked 31st in the league in both total
offense and defense.
"Obviously, you have to have a lot of confidence in your
ability to turn something around," said Fox, who might have had a
head coaching job a year ago if he didn't have to wait to interview
until after the Super Bowl. "I've done that through different
organizations and different teams. I think I'll be very
successful."
Another option the Panthers could consider is Marty
Schottenheimer, whom the Redskins fired in favor of Spurrier.
Schottenheimer has a home in nearby Lake Norman, but is a
longshot because the Panthers might shy away from hiring the coach
who was fired so another team could hire the coach Carolina really
wanted.
Panthers owner Jerry Richardson had said he would take his time
with the search, which could mean Ravens defensive coordinator
Marvin Lewis could still have a chance to interview. Baltimore is
still playing, leaving Lewis unavailable until the Ravens season is
over.
| |
|
