The Latest (3:15PM):
Many people are trying to say this is a done deal, while just as many others are saying the process of Carroll accepting an offer to coach the Seattle Seahawks will take longer than everyone thinks. The things that seem to be for certain are that: (1) whether this happens today or tomorrow or next week, Carroll is going to go to Seattle, and (2), when he does, the Trojans will have Mike Riley as #1 on their list of candidates.
Original Post (2:46PM):
Since the rumors started yesterday, there really has been no doubt that the Seahawks had zeroed in on Pete Carroll to take over for Jim Mora. Futhermore, there was no doubt that Pete Carroll was going to turn this down.
It now appears that the Seahawks have satisfied the Rooney Rule, and an agreement has been reached.
With Carroll likely gone at USC, there is also no doubt that the Trojans are going to come after our very own Mike Riley. Will the Corvallis-native, Prius-driving Riley buy what USC AD Mike Garrett sells him? That's up for speculation.
It's like Pat Casey being courted by Notre Dame, but to a whole new extreme.
More as it breaks.
ESPN is reporting... (as of about 2:00PM):
Pete Carroll has reached an agreement in principle with the Seahawks on a deal to be their next head coach, multiple NFL sources confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter early Saturday morning.
Carroll was fully expected to be introduced by the Seahawks as early as Monday, after the team interviewed Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier on Saturday morning.
According to the sources, Frazier met with the Seahawks in Minneapolis, satisfying the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview a minority candidate for head-coaching and senior football-operations hires.
Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke had told Frazier that Carroll definitely does not have Seattle's job. Frazier had been unwilling to talk with the Seahawks about the head-coaching vacancy if Carroll had been promised full control of the Seahawks. Multiple sources indicated to ESPN he had been.
UPDATE, 2:59PM: The Associated Press is saying that an agreement hasn't been reached, but all signs still point to Carroll taking over in Seattle:
Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks do not have an agreement despite widespread reports but are closing in on a deal, according to a league official with direct knowledge of the coaching search.
The official told The Associated Press on Saturday the team is in "discussions" with the Southern California coach and do not plan on giving him the additional title of president. The official added the Seahawks will hire a general manager and coach separately.
"No, they do not have an agreement. They are not there," the official told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Seahawks are not commenting.
When asked if Carroll will become the eighth coach in Seattle's 34-year history, the official said all signs point that way, just "not so fast" as has been reported.
--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)