Are the Raiders still on the hunt for a "superstar" head coach?
Oakland's current list of candidates hardly suggests the "rock star" that owner Mark Davis was supposedly desperate to unearth after firing Dennis Allen in September.
Along with interim coach Tony Sparano, the Raiders have asked to speak with 49ers assistant Eric Mangini, Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.
All four men have been fired from NFL head-coaching gigs since 2010.
It's fair to wonder if the Raiders might have more up their sleeve, though, with former Packers and Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren telling Seattle's KJR-AM on Monday that he has received a "couple of inquiries" from coach-needy teams. That admission comes two months after "The Walrus" visited Oakland's facility, but shrugged it off by saying he "probably" won't be the Raiders' next hire.
Writers close to the team believe Holmgren, who shares ties to Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie, might be in play for a leadership role with the team. Holmgren, of course, hired Shurmur to coach the Browns in 2011 after firing Mangini from that role. Shurmur's uncle, Fritz Shurmur, worked with both Holmgren and McKenzie during his stint as a defensive coordinator with the Packers.
The Raiders have concocted a candidate list with deep connective tissue. It will be fascinating to see where this leads.
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