With the recent hiring of Baltimore's defensive coordinator Rex Ryan this past Monday by the New York Jets, the Oakland Raiders are now officially the only NFL team sans a head coach. Two days prior to Ryan's hiring by the Jets, Raiders general managing partner Al Davis interviewed Oakland's linebackers coach Don Martindale for a coaching position. Martindale coached at the University of Cincinatti along side Rex Ryan during the 1996-1997 seasons. It is highly probable that Rex Ryan may seek to acquire Martindale's services in New York, forcing the Raiders into a bidding war to keep him.

With Greg Knapp's move to Seattle, the offensive coordinator position presents another glaring need for the Raiders. Jim Fassel, former head coach of the New York Giants, has expressed interest in coming to the bay to help the Raiders. It is said that he's a candidate for the head coaching position, but it is also possible that he may be considered for offensive play caller if Davis decides to go with a different head coach.

The Raiders will be at the Senior Bowl on Saturday in Mobile, Alabama to scout players with the rest of the league. Former Raiders' offensive coordinator Marc Trestman who will also be on hand at the Senior Bowl this weekend, has announced that he's interested in coming back to the NFL as a coach. Trestman was the offensive coordinator for the Raiders during their 2002 campaign which led them to the Super Bowl and featured the league's number one offense. Trestman should be considered another likely candidate for the position. Trestman spent last season in the Canadian Football League coaching the Montreal Alouettes.

Source: MercuryNews.com