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There have been a few reports pertaining to AFC East coaching staffs that deserve monitoring:

ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted former University of Pittsburgh head coach Dave Wannstedt is in demand and will speak with the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers and Carolina Panthers.

Bills head coach Chan Gailey was the Miami Dolphins' offensive coordinator when Wannstedt was head coach. Schefter added Wannstedt would not interview to be defensive coordinator with the Bills. They do have at least one defensive vacancy after firing inside linebackers coach Demontie Cross last week.

The Dolphins are moving on their offensive coordinator opening, need a quarterbacks coach and would seem to be unhappy with their tight ends coach, too.

They've been granted permission to interview Dallas Cowboys tight ends coach John Garrett and San Diego Chargers tight ends coach Rob Chudzinski to be offensive coordinator.

Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com reported Monday the Dolphins wanted to speak with Garrett, and the Cowboys were OK with it. Garrett, the older brother of new Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, served on Bill Parcells' 2007 Cowboys staff with Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano.

San Diego Union-Tribune beat writer Kevin Acee reported Chudzinski might follow former Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera to the Panthers. Chudzinski is a former Miami Hurricanes and Browns offensive coordinator and also held the title of assistant head coach with the Chargers.

The Dolphins also need a quarterbacks coach because David Lee, the man who introduced the Wildcat to the offense, will be Mississippi's offensive coordinator.

I've received quite a few e-mails and text messages from South Floridians incredulous at the report the Buffalo Bills had Cam Cameron on their head-coaching short list.

And they're disappointed it didn't come to fruition.

John Murphy, sports director of Buffalo's CBS affiliate and the Bills' play-by-play voice, reported the Bills had two sets of candidates: realistic and idealistic.

The viable candidates Murphy listed were free agent Chan Gailey, Arizona Cardinals assistant head coach Russ Grimm, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera and Cameron, who is currently the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator.

There was no mention of New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who confirmed last week the Bills requested an interview that he turned down.

Among the long-shot candidates Murphy named were free agents Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden, Mike Shanahan and Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh.

While I'm not as down on Cameron as some folks are, you have to wonder why the Bills would be so interested. Cameron is two seasons removed from his only season as a head coach, when he went 1-15 with the Miami Dolphins and was fired.

It was a disastrous season in which the Dolphins botched the ninth overall draft pick (that's the selection the Bills have this year) by selecting Ted Ginn.

Cameron mismanaged a dicey quarterback situation, and if Bills need anything right now it's somebody who can get a handle on that position. After signing veteran free agent Trent Green to hold down the job and drafting John Beck in the second round as the quarterback of the future, the Dolphins fell apart and came away with journeyman Cleo Lemon as their best option that year. Beck lasted two seasons before the Dolphins cut him.

Cameron also insisted on keeping the offensive coordinator's job, but when the season unraveled he surreptitiously handed off to tight ends coach Mike Mularkey, a name that now has Bills fans laughing just as hard as Dolfans are at memories of Cameron.

CBS Sports analyst Charley Casserly on Saturday reported the Buffalo Bills offered their head-coaching position to Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh, but he turned them down.

The scoop was another big blow to a wounded organization's reputation.

Who wants this job?

The Bills have had two months to replace Dick Jauron. Two other clubs have fired coaches and replaced them within a week. It will be interesting to see if the Oakland Raiders fire Tom Cable and hire someone before the Bills announce Jauron's replacement.

Several have spurned the Bills' overtures. Below is a rejection rundown with a "snub scale" for how much Bills fans should be bothered by each rebuff. I'm not going to bother analyzing Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden or Mike Holmgren, all of whom have been approached in some manner by the Bills and turned down.

Confirmed interviews

Free-agent coach Mike Shanahan: Accepted head-coaching post with the Washington Redskins. Snub scale (out of 10): 1. The Redskins are a high-profile franchise that spends a lot of money. A no-brainer for Shanahan.

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier: Still alive in the playoffs, and we don't know how interested he is in the Bills. What if Frazier turns them down, too? Snub scale: Incomplete.

Bills interim coach Perry Fewell: Would rather take a defensive coordinator job with the New York Giants than wait for the possibility of a head coaching job. Snub scale: 3. If your dream is to be an NFL head coach, then you'd normally wait before accepting a lesser job, but Fewell saw the writing on the wall.

Reported offer

Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh: Would rather remain in the Pac-10 than be Bills head coach. Snub scale: 10. For wanting to remain with a second-tier college program rather than be head coach for Buffalo.

Declined interviews

New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer: Would rather remain a coordinator than run the Bills. Snub scale: 8. For preferring to have success as a supporting cast member than be a head coach, which he harbors dreams of doing.

San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera: Reportedly told the Bills and Seattle Seahawks he wasn't interested in interviewing for their jobs. We still haven't heard from Rivera on this like we've heard from Schottenheimer. Snub scale: If true, an Incomplete because he hasn't gone on record to say he definitely wouldn't interview when the Chargers are eliminated.

Former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis: Would rather be the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs. John Murphy, sports director of Buffalo CBS affiliate WIVB and the Bills' play-by-play radio voice, reported the Bills' interest in Weis. Snub scale: 9. For signing up to be an underling on a four-win club, but at least he's joining old friends he's comfortable with.

Might decline an interview

Arizona Cardinals assistant head coach Russ Grimm: Buffalo News reporter Allen Wilson reported Grimm likely will turn down the Bills' request to interview. Snub scale: If Grimm follows through, a 10 for shunning one of the NFL's precious 32 roles he covets.

John in La Jolla, Calif., writes in with a complaint: "Tim, why do you have so little respect for the Chargers? I can't wait for your response. Hardly anyone at ESPN ever mentions them."

Tim Graham: The fact the San Diego Chargers play in the AFC West and this is an AFC East blog might have a little something to do with it. That would explain my lack of Chargers coverage over the past two years.

As for a lack of respect, I've gone on record as predicting the Chargers will beat the New York Jets on Sunday. So have all eight ESPN experts who pick the games, AccuScore and the SportsNation poll. Notice those 10 yellow lightning bolts all in a row? That means they're predicting a Chargers victory.

Ethan in Austin, Texas, thinks the Buffalo Bills' inability to land a coach has been "overplayed" because of his belief that Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is the only one to have turned down an interview, that Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera eventually will interview and that there have been no confirmed reports Bill Cowher is out of the mix.

TG: That's an awful lot of blind hope. In all fairness, Ethan submitted his question before Saturday's report in the Buffalo News that Arizona Cardinals assistant head coach Russ Grimm likely won't accept the Bills' invitation to interview either. Even so, these men also spurned overtures from the Bills: Jon Gruden, Mike Holmgren and Charlie Weis. Mike Shanahan interviewed and went elsewhere. That's a lot of rejection.

Interim coach Perry Fewell would rather have the New York Giants' defensive coordinator job than the possibility of the Bills' head-coaching position. That leaves one candidate we know they've interviewed and still is available, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.

As for still waiting on Cowher, what are you basing that hope on? Other reports that state the Bills have been pursuing him? You can't listen only to the stories that tell you what you want to hear. ESPN's Adam Schefter and John Clayton and Sports Illustrated's Peter King all have reported Cowher isn't coming to Buffalo.

Tony in Madison, Wisc., wants to know what the Miami Dolphins should do in the draft. He mentions the defensive line, receiver and safety.

TG: Let's not forget inside linebacker. The Dolphins need to upgrade there, too. They were ready to walk away from Channing Crowder last year and let him become a free agent. Crowder gave them a discount rate to remain with the team. Otherwise, the Dolphins would have gone a different direction a while ago. Akin Ayodele hasn't been a difference-maker, either.

The Dolphins own the No. 12 selection. A receiver there would be the sexiest pick. Chad Henne could use a formidable and reliable downfield target. But if the Dolphins identify a nose tackle they like, and who projects worthy of the draft slot, then that could be the way to go. Nose tackle is critical to a 3-4 defense. Jason Ferguson is a free agent, would turn 36 next season and is coming off a leg injury that limited him to nine games. Paul Soliai was adequate in Ferguson's place, but the Dolphins probably wouldn't mind improving there.

Carlos posted a question on my Facebook wall about how the Patriots might change on the offensive line to make room for Sebastian Vollmer. (If anybody else wants to friend me on Facebook, you can get alerts on my blogs the second they're posted.)

TG: Although receiver Julian Edelman was the biggest name at the end of the year, Vollmer was the prize of New England's 2009 rookie class. Vollmer showed he was capable of being a franchise left tackle, but the Patriots would be better off if they kept the aging-but-still-capable Matt Light through the final year of his contract and insert Vollmer on the right side for Nick Kaczur. If the Patriots wanted to cut payroll, however, then they could start Vollmer at left tackle next year with no problem.

In response to the debate about whether Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis deserved to win the AP's Defensive Player of the Year Award instead of Green Bay Packers defensive back Charles Woodson, Kevin in Menlo Park, Calif., wants to know how each player compared from a penalty standpoint.

TG: Revis was penalized four times for 20 yards. Three flags were for illegal contact. The other was for defensive holding. No pass interference calls.

Woodson was penalized eight times for 68 yards. He was called for pass interference three times, defensive holding three times and facemask twice.

Steve in Middlesex, N.J., writes in with a correction. He points out that twice I erroneously cited the Dallas Cowboys finished with a better scoring defense while, in fact, the Jets gave up fewer points.

TG: Guilty as charged. I have no explanation other than I must've looked up the stat incorrectly the first time and then committed those false numbers to memory. For the record, the Jets allowed a league-low 236 points for an average of 14.8 points per game. The Cowboys allowed 250 points for an average of 15.6 points per game.

Gene in Rochester, N.Y., writes: "Do you ever get tired putting down the Bills all the time? Its getting old."

TG: After a full decade without making the playoffs, the only way I can avoid writing anything negative about the Bills would be not to cover them at all.

The Buffalo Bills have had two months to interview candidates and hire a new head coach.

In that span -- unless they held some more stealth meetings -- the Bills have formally interviewed one candidate who's still available.

Getting antsy, Bills fans?

The New York Giants announced Thursday that Perry Fewell will be their defensive coordinator. Fewell was the Bills' interim head coach and interviewed for their permanent job last week.

Fewell wasn't going to return to the Bills anyway, but the fact he and other members of their fired staff are finding work within two weeks (special teams coordinator Bobby April joined the Philadelphia Eagles, and offensive line coach Sean Kugler joined the Pittsburgh Steelers) while the Bills are spinning their wheels doesn't look good.

Since the regular season ended, two NFL clubs have fired their head coaches and hired replacements.

With Fewell off the market, that leaves Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier the lone applicant to have interviewed that we know about. The Bills met with Frazier on Thursday.

Since then, we've learned New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera have rejected overtures from the Bills.

Arizona Cardinals assistant head coach Russ Grimm reportedly has agreed to a Bills interview request, but he isn't expected to sit down with them until after the playoffs.

The Bills interviewed Mike Shanahan in November. He accepted the Washington Redskins' gig. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported the Bills held a "stealth meeting" with Bill Cowher two weeks ago. The Bills reportedly approached former Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, who took a job as Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator.

Maybe this process is going exactly the way the Bills envisioned, but somehow I doubt it.

New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer wants to be a head coach some day.

Just not of the 2010 Buffalo Bills.

Schottenheimer spoke with reporters for the first time since spurning the Bills' interview request. He explained he has nothing against the Bills' organization and professed his satisfaction of working for Jets head coach Rex Ryan.

"It's not about the Buffalo Bills," Schottenheimer said. "It's about the New York Jets and how I feel about this organization and the way I see the direction of this team going under Rex."

Schottenheimer's diplomatic response notwithstanding, he passed on the chance to interview for a precious one-of-32 job. That doesn't reflect well on the Bills, who also were turned down by a number of big-name former head coaches and San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.

Schottenheimer said he learned of Buffalo's interest Tuesday, when Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum summoned him for a meeting and told him the Bills had reached out.

"We had a chance to have some dialogue," Schottenheimer said. "I explained to them what my thoughts were and how I felt. They said to take some time to think about it. I said 'Hey, I don't think it'll take very long, but I appreciate that.' I went and made a few phone calls. I talked to my wife.

"At the end of the day, I followed my gut. I'm the type of person, you make a decision, you make the right decision. I'm never going to look back. I'm always going to look forward, and we'll make it the right decision."

Schottenheimer has interviewed for head-coaching jobs in the past, including the Miami Dolphins in 2007.

"Do I want to be a head coach? Absolutely," he said. "I think it has to be the right time. I think it has to be the right situation. You can't put a price tag on happiness.

"I didn't feel like I had to take this interview. I have the experience. I've done three of them, and I've come up short in all three of them. I didn't need the experience, but I'm happy. I'm content. We've got a big game to play this weekend."

Do the Buffalo Bills have the worst head-coaching job in the entire NFL?

It's difficult to argue otherwise when they keep getting turned down for interviews.

Most of the A-list candidates gave Buffalo the Heisman stiff arm a long time ago. Now, top assistants who've never been head coaches before are saying "No, thanks."

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, after receiving permission from his employer to interview, will not speak with the Bills this week or in the event the Jets are knocked out of the playoffs.

Scottenheimer told me over the weekend how happy he was with the Jets, saying he still wanted to be a head coach ""at some point down the line, but I won't be disappointed if I'm here the next five or six years."

The San Diego Union-Tribune on Monday reported Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera turned down opportunities to interview with the Bills and Seattle Seahawks last week.

Since general manager Buddy Nix was hired, the Bills have interviewed interim coach Perry Fewell and Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.

But one top assistant has agreed to an interview. Arizona Cardinals assistant head coach Russ Grimm told the Associated Press he would talk to the Bills, but probably not until the Cardinals' postseason is over.

There have been a few dispatches about the Buffalo Bills coaching search since I left Cincinnati this afternoon.

Here are the highlights:

Dave Hutchinson of the Newark Star-Ledger reports the Bills have been granted permission to interview New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer this week. Hutchinson, citing an unnamed source, writes the interview must be conducted at the Jets' leisure and not interfere with preparations for Sunday's playoff game against the San Diego Chargers.

I wrote a blog earlier about Schottenheimer's thoughts on becoming a head coach.

After Saturday's victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, I asked Jets coach Rex Ryan about Schottenheimer's performance. Ryan responded by suggesting Schottenheimer was destined to be a head coach in a few weeks.

"I really don't want to be honest what I think of Schotty because I want him here," Ryan said. "Realistically, what a job, an amazing job, kept them off balance. We were getting a million [defenders in the box]. He did a good job of mixing in the run and the pass. He called the game like a head coach. Yeah, we could've probably made more passes, more plays down the field. But we wanted to move the clock.

"He's just doing a tremendous job. I realize we're probably only going to have him for as long as we're in this tournament, but we're enjoying it right now."

Fox Sports senior writer Jay Glazer adds the Bills have reached out to the Arizona Cardinals about talking to assistant head coach Russ Grimm.

San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Kevin Acee, citing multiple sources, writes about Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera turning down the Bills' and Seattle Seahawks' requests to interview during the bye week.

As NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert reminds us, Bills interim coach Perry Fewell interviewed Monday for the defensive coordinator opening with the Chicago Bears. Seifert thinks Fewell is the frontrunner for the Bears job. Fewell appears to be a long shot to return to Buffalo.

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the Steelers interviewed special teams coordinator Bobby April, who triggered an out clause in his Bills coaching contract last week.

Any speculation of the Buffalo Bills' timetable in pinpointing a new head coach would be a guesstimate.

But nothing will happen until owner Ralph Wilson gives his blessing.

Bills general manager Buddy Nix on Thursday interviewed Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, their second known interview of the week in addition to Bills interim coach Perry Fewell.

John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which advocates minority hiring in the NFL, spoke with Nix after Frazier's interview. While Nix offered glowing reports on both interviews, he also conveyed the process wasn't nearing completion.

"I think Buddy has a couple more candidates he wants to interview," Wooten said. "He'll decide on one or two guys he feels good about, and then those guys will have an opportunity to meet with Mr. Wilson and go from there."

When the Bills essentially dismissed their entire coaching staff Monday, many NFL insiders believed that was a harbinger for a quick hire.

The Bills haven't disclosed any details about their list of candidates or their agenda.

They have until the end of the week to interview assistants of teams that have first-round playoff byes.

One supposed aspirant, San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, told Buffalo NBC affiliate WGRZ on Thursday he hadn't been contacted. Free agent Brian Billick, the former Baltimore Ravens head coach, also told the station he hadn't been approached.

ProFootballTalk.com reported Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh is a possible candidate for the Bills and Oakland Raiders.

If the Bills have their eye on an assistant who's involved in the first round of the playoffs, then they will have to wait until that team is eliminated to interview him.

Wooten spoke with Nix because as part of the protocol for Rooney Rule interviews. The Rooney Rule mandates at least one minority be interviewed for every head coach or top personnel opening.

"We got some real good reports from the Bills on Perry and Leslie," Wooten said. "Both of them felt good about their interviews.

"Buddy Nix was extremely generous with his compliments, and they had great interviews and felt things were moving forward. We feel good about it."

But nobody expects Fewell to be back in Buffalo. Wooten confirmed Fewell interviewed Thursday with the New York Giants to be their defensive coordinator and will meet with the Chicago Bears next about the same position.

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has been viewed as a token interview over the years, an obligatory candidate for various head-coaching vacancies because he's black. NFL policy stipulates that at least one minority be interviewed for every vacancy.

But we can safely state the Buffalo Bills don't view Frazier as a required interview. The Bills will meet with Frazier on Thursday morning to discuss their opening.

The Bills aren't searching for a minority to interview as many teams have done in the past. They interviewed interim coach Perry Fewell on Monday afternoon. The Bills also are reportedly interested in San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. Fewell is black. Rivera is Puerto Rican.

John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which oversees the so-called Rooney Rule on minority hires, said he anticipated the Bills will interview Rivera later this week.

Frazier and Rivera are permitted to interview for the Bills' opening before the end of their teams' seasons because they have first-round postseason byes.

"I'm impressed," Wooten said of the Bills' search. "They didn’t have to interview any of these minority guys. They've already satisfied the Rooney Rile with the interview they gave Perry Fewell."

Wooten couldn't confirm a scheduled interview for Rivera, but the Fritz Pollard Alliance stages preparatory sessions for candidates before they interview. The organization already has met with Rivera about the Bills.

Frazier declined to comment on Thursday's interview when I reached him at the Vikings' facility because he was on his way to a team meeting.

Frazier has interviewed for five openings over the past two years. He was the lone minority the Miami Dolphins interviewed for the job Tony Sparano assumed in 2008.

"He has absolutely earned it," said Wooten, a Pro Bowl guard for the Cleveland Browns in the 1960s. "I think he's really ready to take the step up. I think he should have gotten the job with St. Louis and Detroit. I really thought he'd fit right in with those particular spots last year. He was disappointed, and I told him there was nothing wrong with becoming disappointed, but don't get discouraged.

"He'll do a fantastic job tomorrow. His stinger will be up and he'll give a good interview. I think he brings the fire they need."

There's a buzz in the NFL community the Buffalo Bills could be on the verge of executing a quick search and hiring a new head coach this week.

Even though general manager Buddy Nix indicated the process hadn't begun when he took over Thursday, some insiders predict an announcement is imminent based on Monday's move to fire the entire coaching staff to clear the way.

Brian Billick could be the guy.

Yahoo! Sports columnist Jason Cole reported over the weekend Billick, the former Baltimore Ravens coach, would interview this week.

Paul Hamilton, reporter for Buffalo sports radio station WGR, cites a league source who has informed him Billick has been assembling a staff for Buffalo.

As far as anybody knows, the Bills haven't formally interviewed anyone since they met with former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan on Nov. 23.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported Sunday the Bills had held a "stealth meeting" with former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher before Nix was hired, but ESPN's Adam Schefter followed up Monday with a report Cowher probably won't coach in 2010.

Nix said he would interview interim head coach Perry Fewell on Monday. Hamilton wrote on his blog the Bills would seek permission to interview San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.

Newly minted Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix wouldn't divulge any names Thursday, when he spoke of putting together a list of candidates to consider for the club's head-coaching vacancy.

But two days later, a name has emerged.

Paul Hamilton of Buffalo sports radio station WGR 550 reports the Bills will ask the Chargers for permission to speak with defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. The NFL allows assistants from playoff teams to interview for jobs only during a bye week, which the Chargers have secured.

Rivera's and Nix's paths crossed with the Chargers in 2007. Nix was in his last season as director of player personnel and assistant general manager when the Chargers interviewed Rivera to be their head coach. They went with Norv Turner instead, but Rivera agreed to come aboard as linebackers coach.

Rivera won a Super Bowl as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears. He began his coaching career as the Bears' linebackers coach and eventually became their defensive coordinator.

There has been talk about Rivera's interview satisfying the Rooney Rule, which mandates a minority candidate be considered. But Nix on Thursday stated the Bills formally will interview interim coach Perry Fewell, who is black.