FASSEL STILL IN JOB-HUNTING MODE

Former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel has yet to spark the interest of Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis despite sending Davis a letter asking to be interviewed for the team’s head-coaching position, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. “I think I know as much about the organization as any coach out there and can do what it takes to make the Raiders great again,” Fassel said. A former NFL Coach of the Year, Fassel has struggled to find NFL employment since being fired by the Baltimore Ravens as offensive coordinator in 2006. Known for his past work with quarterbacks Kerry Collins, Phil Simms and John Elway, Fassel has a prior stint as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator. John Fassel, Fassel’s son, was recently promoted by Davis to coach the Raiders’ special teams. Fassel reportedly had a “terrific” interview with the St. Louis Rams, but that job went to Steve Spagnuolo. Of course, the growing trend in the NFL to go with younger, unproven coaches could be working against Fassel, 59, as well. Among the recent NFL hires who didn’t have prior NFL head coaching experience: Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh, Mike Smith, Tony Sparano, Ken Whisenhunt, Rex Ryan, Josh McDaniels, Jim Schwartz, Raheem Morris, Jim Caldwell and Mike Singletary. The article points out that four coaches with a total of five Super Bowl rings (Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden, Tony Dungy and Mike Holmgren) have either left or been fired from their jobs since the season ended. That’s a ton of institutional experience sitting at home, and it will be extremely interesting to see what happens in the 2010 hiring cycle when Bill Cowher, Shanahan, Gruden and others are expected to be heavily pursued for sideline gigs.