It's becoming an annual event: A prime coaching job opens up and Bob Stoops' name lands on the supposed short list of candidates, only for him to say he's happy at Oklahoma.
The latest supposed will-he-or-won't-he scenario: Stoops to the Denver Broncos?
Not happening, Stoops said yesterday after his team practiced at Barry University, just a few miles south of the site of Thursday's Bowl Championship Series title game between his Sooners and the Florida Gators.
"What situation? That's a rumor that I have not heard, and no one has contacted me about that so I don't know anything about it," Stoops said. "We're preparing for a national championship. That's all my focus, all my concentration is on that, so obviously I'm not a candidate. I'm sure someone might have told me ... if I was."
The Broncos fired Mike Shanahan on Tuesday after 14 seasons.
"There's no story," Stoops said. "I'm not a candidate. This is the first I've heard about it."
The search for Shanahan's successor took Denver's brass to the East Coast for weekend interviews.
Owner Pat Bowlen, chief operating officer Joe Ellis and personnel chief Jim Goodman jetted off to New York yesterday for a dinner meeting with Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who also interviewed about the Jets' coaching vacancy. The executives will have a conversation today with New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
They will return to Denver for interviews this week with Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.
Also, the first internal candidate emerged when offensive coordinator Rick Dennison asked for an interview this week.
Ravens: : Pro personnel director George Kokinis is considered "the likely favorite" to become the Browns' general manager if Eric Mangini is hired as head coach, ESPN reported.
Kokinis did not returns calls from The Baltimore Sun, and the Ravens would not confirm whether the Browns had sought permission to talk to him.
Lions: : Fired Detroit president Matt Millen, the architect of the NFL's first 0-16 team, said he's responsible for its historic encounter with failure.
Appearing on NBC's Football Night in America, Millen said he would have fired himself after the 2008 season. He said that being sacked after the third week cost the Lions and coach Rod Marinelli some needed stability and consistency.
