Rams coach Scott Linehan is on record as saying he wants running back Marshall Faulk back in 2006. But Faulk told reporters in New Orleans this past week that he's still thinking it over. "I'm still a Ram; I'm still under contract," Faulk told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "We'll see. It's hard to say. I haven't made any decision yet. "When I play isn't a question. It's if I play. I'm going to play with St. Louis if I play." Faulk still has three years remaining on a four-year contract extension he signed last February. If he retired, was released, or was traded, the Rams would absorb a cap hit of about $4.1 million in 2006.

The Rams have hired former Saints head coach Jim Haslett to be their defensive coordinator. Haslett agreed to a three-year contract Tuesday morning. Haslett met with head coach Scott Linehan in Miami over the weekend and was offered the job. After thinking about it Monday night, Haslett decided to accept it Tuesday morning.

Former St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz believes the longer he stays unemployed, the greater the probability he won't coach next season. Martz, who led St. Louis to four playoff berths and a Super Bowl in six seasons, was fired the day after the season ended because of disagreements with the front office. He has been mentioned as a candiate for the offensive coordinator's job in Miami, where Scott Linehan left to become the Rams' coach. "It's news to me," Martz said. "I've never talked to them. I don't know anything about it." Earlier this month, Martz interviewed in New Orleans for the head coaching job that went to Sean Payton. He said he is in no hurry to find another job.

The St. Louis Rams hired Miami offensive coordinator Scott Linehan on Thursday, the sixth first-time NFL head coach to land a job in the last two weeks. The team called a news conference for Friday to introduce their fourth head coach since moving to the Midwest in 1995. It's the first hire outside the organization, however, since Dick Vermeil was lured out of retirement in 1997. That move produced the franchise's only Super Bowl victory after the 1999 season. The 42-year-old Linehan impressed the team in two interviews. Then, he passed a final test with a meeting with team majority owner Georgia Frontiere in Arizona.

Continuing the runaway trend toward hiring first-time head coaches, the St. Louis Rams have chosen Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Scott Linehan as the successor to the deposed Mike Martz and Wednesday night entered into contract discussions with him. Barring a hangup in negotiations, which is not likely, Linehan will be introduced as the Rams' head coach by the end of the week. Team and league sources as well as a source close to Linehan confirmed to ESPN.com that the Dolphins assistant had been offered the job.

Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Scott Linehan has emerged as the favorite to land the head coaching job for the St. Louis Rams, league and team sources have told ESPN's Chris Mortensen. Linehan is not a lock for the job, Mortensen reported Saturday, but he had an impressive interview this week and the Rams are doing more research on the 42-year-old assistant who served previously as the Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator. The Rams initially expected to hire a coach with a defensive background but were disappointed when Gregg Williams signed a lucrative extension to remain with the Washington Redskins. Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera remains in the hunt after the Rams tried unsuccessfully to interview Tampa Bay Buccaneers veteran defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who opted to remain in Tampa.

Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassel interviewed Thursday with St. Louis officials, as the Rams continue to seek the successor to Mike Martz. Fassel met with team president John Shaw and with president of football operations Jay Zygmunt after the Rams received permission from the Ravens on Wednesday to conduct the interview. The Rams have not indicated a timeline for replacing Martz, fired one day after the season ended. Martz, meanwhile, was scheduled for a Friday interview with New Orleans officials. The Saints on Thursday huddled with former Green Bay coach Mike Sherman. It is widely believed St. Louis is seeking a head coach with expertise on the defensive side, but Fassel is the second offensive coordinator to discuss the opening, joining Scott Linehan of the Miami Dolphins. The Rams have also arranged an interview with Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. Fassel, 56, is the first candidate with previous head coach experience to interview for the St. Louis job. A 15-year NFL veteran, Fassel was the New York Giants head coach for seven seasons, 1997-2003, and compiled a 60-56-1 record. He won two division titles, took the Giants to the playoffs three times, and to Super Bowl XXXV in 2000.

Mike Martz is eager to coach again, especially after missing the last 11 games of the season with a heart ailment. He's still coming to grips with not coaching the St. Louis Rams anymore, he told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday. "I felt like I could ride this one into the sunset," Martz said, a day after he was fired after five-plus seasons. "But the NFL, it stands for 'Not for Long.' " Martz's agent, Bob LaMonte, is scheduled to meet with team president John Shaw in the next day or two to discuss a possible settlement of the final year of his contract, worth $3.25 million.

Mike Martz has been medically cleared to return to work but isn't expected to coach the Rams again, ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports. In a bizarre turn, Martz showed up at the Rams facility on Wednesday to accuse two coaches of being disloyal, and on Thursday told his entire staff to take next week off because the coaches had worked so hard, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports. Martz is expected to report to work on Monday and likely will be dismissed then.