Pete Carroll and Falcons Still Talking

Jan. 11, 2008 — -- ATLANTA -- While the chances of Pete Carroll even agreeing to meet with the Atlanta Falcons about their head coach vacancy remain a long shot at best, dialogue between the Southern California coach and team officials still was ongoing Thursday, league sources told ESPN.com.

In fact, on Thursday, Carroll was still in contact with coaches who likely would be assistants on his staff if he was offered and accepted the job here.

Various media outlets have suggested that Carroll already has or soon will rebuff the advances of Atlanta owner Arthur Blank. ESPN's Joe Schad reported Thursday that a person familiar with Carroll's thinking said it appeared he will decline the opportunity to interview for the job.

Carroll had yet to apprise the Falcons of that as of late Thursday night. Team officials still believed there was a chance Carroll would consider the job and a source close to the USC coach acknowledged late Thursday that, while he would probably remain with the Trojans, the Falcons' flirtation "is not quite a dead issue yet."

ESPN.com first reported Tuesday that the Falcons planned to pursue Carroll for an interview.

Critical to whether Carroll agrees to meet with Falcons officials -- the original timeframe from Atlanta management had an interview taking place this weekend -- was how much oversight of the football operation Blank is willing to afford him. It has long been believed that Carroll would not return to the NFL for a third stint unless he acquired control over the personnel department.

Under the structure that Blank has laid out, he will hire a new general manager to oversee personnel and scouting, and that person would work with the head coach in a collaborative effort. It is not known if Blank would surrender such far-reaching authority to one man, although some feel he would consider reconfiguring his football structure if there was a modification that would somehow dovetail with Carroll's desires.

Whatever the decision from Carroll, sources said a resolution will come soon.