Linehan, who turned down an offer from the 49ers this past Sunday for the offensive coordinator position, will be interviewing with the Oakland Raiders soon for the same job. Following a disappointing 0-4 start, the Rams let him go after three seasons as head coach. The Rams' lack of production on O led to his dismissal, due to a conditional in his contract allowing St. Louis to release him based on his success coaching the offense.

Along with Al Saunders, who served under Linehan in St. Louis as offensive coordinator, the Rams' former head coach is the only other confirmed candidate for the vacant position. No official comments have been released concerning the interview with Saunders, but it is reported that the Raiders are looking at a third candidate as well.

The interim Raiders head coach Tom Cable played with Linehan at the University of Idaho in the mid eighties. The two also spent one season coaching together at UNLV back in 1991.

Source: MercuryNews.com

The Raiders have announced that they will be interviewing the St. Louis Rams' offensive coordinator Al Saunders as early as Wednesday. Saunders was part of the Rams' coaching staff that led them to the Super Bowl in 2000. He returned to St. Louis this past season, but was part of the staff purging implemented by new head coach Steve Spagnuolo. Saunders' offense was ranked 27th overall last year.

In addition to his stints as offensive coordinator for the Rams, Saunders served as an assistant with the Washington Redskins, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers. Saunders was head coach of the Chargers from 1986-1988. He has spent a total of 26 seasons in the NFL.

Saunders joins the other candidates that the Raiders are looking at to replace the former play caller Greg Knapp, who was hired by the Seattle Seahawks.

Source: InsideBayArea.com

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