With the Seahawks apparently closing in on hiring USC coach Pete Carroll, they have decided not to interview Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera unless and until the Carroll talks implode, per Peter King of SI.com and NBC.
Interviewing Rivera would have meant that the Seahawks “overcomplied” with the Rooney Rule, and it would have made the perfunctory interview of Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier look a bit more legit.
So, basically, they were plotting a second sham interview to make the first sham interview look like less of sham interview.
Again, why is a team without a G.M. even considering interviewing a Plan B or Plan C coach who wouldn’t have final say over the 53-man roster?
But if Carroll doesn’t take the job, the Seahawks won’t be able to interview Rivera until the Chargers’ playoff run ends -- the window to talk to Rivera was open only during the bye week.