It could be a case of the messengers delivering the wrong message, but Seahawks coach Pete Carroll directed his comment about being on the short list of USC's candidates for the its football coaching job directly to Dan Patrick.
Addressing the media at his weekly news conference Tuesday, a reporter told Carroll about Patrick's comments on his radio/television show on Monday, Pro Football Talk reported.
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"I love USC," Carroll responded. "It's a great place. Flattered? I appreciate it Dan, but that's not happening. We're in good shape here."
Patrick, however, said only that sources "behind the scenes" at USC told him they believed Carroll could be persuaded to return to the Trojans, a program he built into a national contender before the team was struck with NCAA sanctions over impermissible benefits to Reggie Bush and Carroll bolted for the Seahawks in 2010.
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"Not that Pete would leave Seattle," Patrick was quoted as saying. "But the alumni are all in on trying to get Pete back. ..."
Whether that was the message relayed to Carroll was unclear.
But Carroll has more immediate concerns with the Seahawks, namely, proving that Seattle is, in fact, "in good shape here."
The Seahawks' four losses all have come when they have led in the fourth quarter this season.
"I haven't really been in this kind of situation with a really good team," Carroll said regarding Seattle's 2-4 record. "It felt so much different, and the results are flipping in terms of some of the factors and stuff. This is new in that regard."
Meanwhile, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy has denied interest in the coaching job, NFL.com reported.
NFL coaches John Harbaugh, Sean Payton and Chip Kelly have been mentioned as candidates, though Kelly denies receiving any contact from the school, according to NFL.com.
Which is probably true. USC wouldn't contact Kelly directly. However, it would contact his agent.
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