Since being fired by the Detroit Lions in November, Steve Mariucci has shunned interview requests through agent Gary O'Hagan and his best friend, Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo. Mariucci also asked a Pistons spokesman to keep reporters away when the Spartans played at The Palace earlier this season. But a four-word response Sunday night during halftime of the Los Angeles Lakers-Detroit Pistons game confirmed what many have concluded about his plans. When an Associated Press reporter asked Mariucci if he planned to take time off from coaching, he replied: "A long time off." O'Hagan declined to comment twice earlier this month when asked about his client's future. Mariucci has two more years remaining on the $25 million contract he signed with the Lions in 2003.

Two days after interviewing with the Raiders, Mike Martz pulled his name from consideration for Oakland's head coaching job and is now contemplating whether or not to join the Detroit Lions' staff. Martz is talking to the Lions about becoming their offensive coordinator and will attempt to make a decision no later than Monday. Earlier this month the Lions hired Rod Marinelli to be their new head coach. Marinelli filled the other coordinator job on Tuesday when former Jets defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson was hired in the same capacity. Deciding who to hire as offensive coordinator will be a critical decision for the Lions, given the ongoing instability at the quarterback position. Marinelli wanted to discuss the job with former Bills coach Mike Mularkey, but Mularkey accepted an offer from the Dolphins last Sunday to run their offense.

Rod Marinelli was nearing an agreement with the Detroit Lions on Wednesday night to become their new head coach, a team source told The Associated Press. The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team had not made an announcement, said Marinelli was to leave the team's practice facility on Wednesday night, but stayed to negotiate his contract. The Lions scheduled a news conference for Thursday morning but did not provide any other details.

Interim Detroit Lions coach Dick Jauron interviewed for the Buffalo job Tuesday, the second candidate to talk to the Bills since coach Mike Mularkey's resignation last week. Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold did not provide any details of Jauron's interview. Jauron is considered a strong candidate for the Buffalo job because he has previous NFL head coaching experience and is close to Marv Levy, the Hall of Fame coach hired by the Bills last week as general manager. Levy maintains a home in Chicago and broadcast Bears games while Jauron was the team's coach through 2003. Jauron, a former Pro Bowl safety, also had a brief connection with Buffalo, beginning his professional coaching career as a Bills defensive backs assistant in 1985.

A day after being fired by the Saints, former coach Jim Haslett has scheduled an interview with the Detroit Lions for later this week, ESPN's Ed Werder reports. Haslett is expected to be a highly sought candidate in an exploding market. More respected leaguewide than within some quarters of his own organization, he likely will hear from multiple suitors as franchises begin the process of filling vacancies.