| | DENVER -- The New England Patriots might be interested in Gary Kubiak, but Kubiak doesn't seem too interested in the Patriots.
Kubiak released a statement Tuesday saying that he was not interested in talking with the Patriots about their opening for a head coach. On Monday, the Patriots had asked for and
received permission from the Broncos to talk with Kubiak, who is Mike Shanahan's offensive coordinator.
Kubiak is believed to be one of five candidates the Patriots
contacted in their early efforts to replace Pete Carroll, who was fired Monday.
NFL sources have told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that the Patriots
will interview Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Gary Crowton Thursday. Crowton just completed his first season
with the Bears and is recognized as being innovative with the passing game. Crowton, the head coach at Louisiana Tech prior to joining the Bears, also served as Boston College quarterbacks coach under Jacksonville Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin.
The Patriots reportedly were interested in hiring their former defensive coordinator,
Bill Belichick. But earlier Monday, after Bill Parcells resigned as
head coach of the New York Jets, Belichick was named Parcells'
successor. Belichick then announced Tuesday that he was not accepting the Jets' job.
Kubiak, 38, already has turned down assistant head-coaching jobs
with the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens, as well as a
head-coaching job at the University of Colorado. Kubiak, who played
for the Broncos for nine seasons, has been reluctant to uproot his
family, particularly if it were not for a coaching job in his
native Texas.
The Patriots also are thought to covet St. Louis Rams offensive
coordinator Mike Martz, but his team is in the playoffs and New
England cannot speak to him until St. Louis concludes its season.
Other coaches the Patriots are said to be considering include
Atlanta Falcons offensive line coach Art Shell and University of Miami head
coach Butch Davis.
The Oakland Raiders have granted the Patriots the right to talk
to defensive coordinator Willie Shaw about their vacant head coaching
position.
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