With team owner Steve Bisciotti away from the training complex and team officials having met with six coaching prospects already, the Ravens didn’t conduct any interviews for the first time since last week.
The Ravens have yet to ask permission to speak to Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, a Baltimore native who will interview later this week with the Atlanta Falcons. At some point, the Ravens are expected to hold discussions with former San Diego Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer.
However, former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher apparently won’t be in the Ravens or any NFL teams’ plans as he reiterated that he has no interest in returning to the sidelines for next season and hasn’t heard from Ravens team officials.
"I don’t have any plans to coach in 2008," Cowher told USA Today. "No one from Baltimore has contacted me. I want to spend more time with my family, and I’m really enjoying and trying to get better at my job at CBS."
After firing Brian Billick last week, Bisciotti emphatically denied having any contact with Cowher.
Meanwhile, recently-dismissed Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is keeping his options open after interviewing for the Ravens’ opening as well as the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins’ respective coaching jobs.
"Shoot, I’m fortunate to be considered," Ryan said. "I think there’s a lot of outstanding coaches out there. I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to get a chance to run my own show and be a head football coach."
The son of former NFL head coach Buddy Ryan, Ryan has also been mentioned in connection with the Washington Redskins’ opening created by Joe Gibbs’ abrupt retirement or he could be in line to become Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis’ defensive coordinator.
Ryan, who coached the Ravens’ defense to rankings of fifth, first and sixth overall over the past three years, met with Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga and executives Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland.
"It was great," Ryan said. "It’s all football with coach Parcells. Without question, I enjoyed my visit.
Besides Ryan, the Ravens have interviewed Indianapolis Colts assistant head coach Jim Caldwell, Dallas Cowboys assistant head coach Tony Sparano, Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and Philadelphia Eagles secondary coach John Harbaugh.
NOTE: Free safety Ed Reed was the lone Ravens player voted onto the Associated Press’ All-Pro team.
