Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden is rumored as being Jacksonville's first choice for their vacant head coaching position. One report even offered that Gruden spoke to the Jaguars about being interested, but not until the Bengals playoff run was over. On Monday Gruden denied talking to anyone or being aware of any teams interested in the first-year offensive coordinator. However the Jacksonville Jaguars do not appear to be the only team interested.

According to two sources (ESPN 101 in St. Louis and the St. Louis Dispatch), the St. Louis Rams are requesting permission to speak with Jay Gruden for their head coaching vacancy.
Though Jeff Fisher is considered the favorite for the job, the Rams are hardly sitting on their idle hands. According to the St. Louis Dispatch, the Rams are also expected to conduct interviews with Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen with Arizona defensive coordinator Ray Horton having already interviewed.
Fisher is expected to make his decision soon and we suspect that the Rams are asking other coaches to interview to help Fisher expedite his decision.
As the offensive coordinator, Jay Gruden's offense ranked 20th in the league in 2011. However much more impressively is that he did it with a rookie quarterback, rookie wide receiver while implementing an entirely new offense during an NFL lockout that prevented coaches from speaking with players.
0 recs | 52 comments
Permission DENIED!!!!!
Helmsy - January 10, 2012
eh
most people think it will be a crazy upset if fisher doesn’t take STL. We might lose Zimmer to Miami, but I even doubt that, considering wade phillips will be up for jobs again with the way Houston’s D is playing.
brandone - January 10, 2012
Agree, up against big names..........
selfishly I’m glad to see these other names going against them.
The Van Buren Boys - January 10, 2012
Wade is interviewing for the Bucs job though.
Hope everyone stays put, but I see Zimmer going to Tampa Bay.
redrifle14 - January 10, 2012
Sorry, I mean Miami.
redrifle14 - January 10, 2012
i still think
miami goes for a bigger name, but that’s just me. I wouldn’t touch the bucs job with a 10 ft. pole if I were any candidate.
brandone - January 10, 2012
Miami wants a big name, but what big name
HC wants J. Ireland as their boss? Plus they have no QB in place, so you would have to start from scratch, which might not be that bad.
redrifle14 - January 10, 2012
Hue Jackson is officially a coaching candidate.
Grizzlyfox - January 10, 2012
Also, I kinda think that the Raiders will hire Zimmer.
Grizzlyfox - January 10, 2012
nah
winston moss.
brandone - January 10, 2012
I heard that if we lose zimmer
Our top choices to replace him are
Kevin Coyle
or
Jack Del Rio
Bengalsfan024 - January 10, 2012
wonder if
Carson sits out and Demands a trade???
joeb69 - January 10, 2012
LOL.
Firing a coach after just 1 yr?
redrifle14 - January 10, 2012
After the CP trade Hue deserved to be fired since they didn't win the division
Oakland was fleaced by MB.
BENGALS69 - January 10, 2012
wonder if the next HC keeps Palmer,
Or resigns Jason C. for cheap. Palmer is due a massive amount of money next yr, to make up for the losses from this yr. I could see Palmer being cut to free up more cap space, it makes sense.
redrifle14 - January 10, 2012
And he can go back to his couch...
Oregonbengalsfan - January 10, 2012
they reworked his deal i know...
Bengalsfan024 - January 10, 2012
I would fire him too
He did make Mike Brown look like a genius.
Mike Brown is no genius by any means.
sgiridharan1982 - January 10, 2012
The Raiders were a Super Bowl team, remember? lol
The Van Buren Boys - January 10, 2012
Yeah they use to talk alot of smack.
Oops, looks like rebuilding time yet again, but this time with NO draft picks, lol!
redrifle14 - January 10, 2012
same old Raiduhs...lol
joeb69 - January 10, 2012
palmer got hue canned. ouch
palewook - January 10, 2012
I don't know about all these Bengal HC rumors
After the rotten egg the Bengals laid in Houston, I got to believe Gruden’s and Zimmer’s shine has dimmed some.
But the good news is should Gruden leave, the Bengals have attractive pieces in place to entice top coaching talent. The other nice part is Marvin is on a one year deal so there could be a HC vacancy in the Mike Brown universe. Not so nice, I know, but for a guy looking to spring board back into HC somewhere, anywhere, having Andy Dalton, Green, Gresham, Whitworth and 2 first round picks is a pretty good deal.
BENGALS69 - January 10, 2012
Hue to Bengals should Gruden step down?
BENGALS69 - January 10, 2012
I think
if Gruden leaves, then we should go after Hue. But I would like to see what Jay can do with a full off-season.
sgiridharan1982 - January 10, 2012
I don't think Marvin would want the drama of bringing Hue back.
Plus there has to be alot of talent out there.
redrifle14 - January 10, 2012
Can Hue do a west coast offense?
That would be what Dalton would be best under. I don’t think we bring in an Non-WCO coordinator if Gruden leaves.
ddbumpus - January 10, 2012
Hue can bring Michael Bush to us and Ochocinco to tear it up too, and also bring CP9
Touhue Cha - January 10, 2012
NIGHTMARE!!!
Besides the Bush part…
Oregonbengalsfan - January 10, 2012
i was joking bout the Ochocinco and CP9
but i like the Bush part, and how Hue wants to get Physical at the line and show them who’s boss
Touhue Cha - January 10, 2012
Oh yeah, I figured you were joking there lol
Oregonbengalsfan - January 10, 2012
hahaha yeah
Touhue Cha - January 10, 2012
im down for CP9
only if its a 1 day retirement deal
Bengalsfan024 - January 10, 2012
Sure i dont mind too lol
Touhue Cha - January 10, 2012
That'll never happen after the stunt he pulled
Oregonbengalsfan - January 10, 2012
The one constant in all this uncertainty is
Mike Brown as GM and CEO of the Cincinnati Bengals.
BENGALS69 - January 10, 2012
Mike brown names
Troy Blackburn to take over Lippincotts duties
Bengalsfan024 - January 10, 2012
I'm not worried about losing either of these guys. I really would like them to stay though.
If Zimmer leaves we can get Del Rio who ran a good defense in Jax.
I don’t think Gruden leaves because of the raw talent he has here now, but I could see shortly in the future.
TCfromDubVee - January 10, 2012
I like Spagnoulo
For some reason, I think Zimmer has peaked in Cincy. The me against the world bit is a little cliche. I think we have a defensive line similar to the 07 Giants. I think Spagnoulo would be a good fit.
sgiridharan1982 - January 10, 2012
I like the thinking of Spagnoulo the guy does fire his Defense up besides he knows Gibril WIilson too
Touhue Cha - January 10, 2012
spagnoulo was the rams coach right?
Bengalsfan024 - January 10, 2012
Yes
He coached the Rams.
sgiridharan1982 - January 10, 2012
spags is saying he's taking a year off from coaching
palewook - January 10, 2012
IF Hue jackson some how became out OC
and used that extra first round pick to improve his offense
whould the NFL find something wrong with that?
Bengalsfan024 - January 10, 2012
we're close enough to kentucky
that its probably legal..
palewook - January 10, 2012
so we are keeping marvin then?
Bengalsfan024 - January 10, 2012
Marvin's got another year on his contract
Oregonbengalsfan - January 10, 2012
If he leaves it's better now than later.
We have the youngest team in the AFC and talented at that. These guys are still young and impressionable, they only have one season under Gruden, so it doesn’t seem like it would hurt the players as bad if he left now than say next year. Plus we do have the players and picks to draw in a good OC if it’s needed. The way things looked before the season maybe Gruden was the only one crazy enough to take the job. I hope Gruden and Zim stay because I can see one becoming our new HC. Pulling for Zim on that one.
Bigcatdaddy - January 10, 2012 via Android app
So, if Jeff Fisher goes to...
St. Louis, we lose Zimmer to Miami
Miami, we lose Gruden to St. Louis
either way, we get screwed :)
Actually, I think we can find a replacement for Gruden. He didn’t impress me that much, except for not being Bratkowski. I would hate to see Zimmer leave.
EarthwormJim - January 10, 2012
Agreed.
Would rather keep Zim over Jay.
redrifle14 - January 10, 2012
i'm trying not to pass judgement on gruden yet
its only 1 season.
a short preseason.
rookies at 2 key positions on the offense.
o-line issues.
and a #1 back that can’t break a tackle.
palewook - January 10, 2012
i don't think Gruden is the first, second, third, or even a 4th option for both teams
But I did hear Miami is high on zimmer but they do have other canidates higher than zimmer that they are trying to target.
AMAS85 - January 10, 2012
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