Seattle Seahawks veteran safety Lawyer Milloy, who played for Pete Carroll during his few years in the league while with New England, talked about his experiences with Seattle’s new head coach

“We went to the playoffs two out of the three years he was there,” Milloy said. “I think that’s successful. The only thing about it is when he got the keys to the car, we were coming off an appearance in the Super Bowl. So when you look at it like that, the team was declining every year. But I think he was successful, and I think guys fought hard for him.”

Milloy said his first interaction with Carroll was him sitting Milloy down and telling him he could be a star in the league. Milloy said Carroll wanted him to be the Tim McDonald in his defensive scheme. Carroll coached McDonald while he was the defensive coordinator for San Francisco.

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Seahawks CEO Tim Leiweke addressed reporters this afternoon on the recent firing of Jim Mora and today’s announcement that Pete Carroll has been hired as the team’s new head coach.

It was a surreal set up, with reporters asking questions directed at Leiweke in a conference room while on the flat screen TV across from him Carroll, the guy he hired, was formally announcing his resignation at the University of Southern California.

“There’s Pete now,” said Leiweke during an early portion of the interview, as everyone took a break to see what Carroll was saying on the screen.

Leiweke talked about the decision to fire Jim Mora, and whether or not it was linked to the team having an opportunity to hire Carroll.

“We won nine games in the last two years, and with all due respect four of those were to the St. Louis Rams, and that’s not acceptable,” Leiweke said. “It’s not acceptable to our fans. It’s not acceptable to Mr. Allen. And it certainly isn’t acceptable to me.”

“And some have said this isn’t fair. I’m not going to debate that point. But the status quo was simply not an option.”

Listen to a snippet of the interview here.

MP3:

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Former Seahawks head coach Jim Mora talked to KJR’s Dave “Softy” Mahler and Hugh Millen on the radio this afternoon for about an hour, rehashing the events of the last four days, which included the Seahawks relieving him of head coaching duties on Friday.

Mora was open and honest, as he always has been during his discussions with the media, talking at length about the events that eventually led to his firing, and what his plans are for the future.

“I was blown away,” Mora said about his firing.

Mora said he had felt uneasy all week after the season ended against Tennessee, but that he was reassured by team CEO Tod Leiweke before Wednesday’s end-of-the-season press conference.

“I didn’t figure I’d be put out to do a press conference if things were going to change,” Mora said. “That doesn’t usually happen in this business. They kind of fire you on Monday or Tuesday, and they move on. So I’m thinking I’m in good shape.”

But Mora said that on Friday morning he had a meeting on with Leiweke, where he was told the team was letting him go.

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The Seattle Seahawks just fired out a press release minutes ago announcing Pete Carroll as the team’s eighth head football coach. Here’s the release:

The Seattle Seahawks and Pete Carroll have agreed to terms on a contract for Carroll to be the next head coach, the team announced today. He will be the eighth head coach in Seahawks history.

“We are excited to add Pete as our coach. He brings a great passion for winning and a positive attitude that is contagious,” said CEO Tod Leiweke. “We now turn our full attention to the hiring process for a general manager.

…

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According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, up-and-coming offensive guru Jeremy Bates has spurned an opportunity to join the Chicago Bears as the team’s new offensive coordinator to join fellow USC coach Pete Carroll as the Seahawks new offensive coordinator in Seattle.

Bates served as USC’s assistant head coach of the offense, calling plays from the field on game days. But Batels also has coached for several years in the NFL, including stops in Tampa Bay, the N.Y. Jets and Denver.

First reported by the Los Angeles Daily News, and now by multiple news outlets, Pete Carroll has resigned as head coach of the University of Southern California.

This seems to clear the way for the Seattle Seahawks to hire him as the team’s eighth head coach, but I have not received word from the team that a deal is finalized, but expect something to be announced either late tonight or early tomorrow.

But right now, it looks like Carroll is headed to Seattle.

UPDATE: And it looks like it will be official soon, as the Los …

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Jason La Confora of the NFL Network is reporting that the Seattle Seahawks will interview Pittsburgh Steelers front-office executive Omar Khan for the team’s vacant GM position this week, joining N.Y. Giants head of scouting Marc Ross and Green Bay Packers front-office executive John Schneider as finalists.

Philadelphia general manager Tom Heckert and Baltimore Ravens personnel man Eric DeCosta withdrew their names from consideration last week.

According to the report, Khan, a salary cap specialist, was someone former Pittsburgh head coach Bill Cowher had tabbed as a person who could serve as his GM when he makes …

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Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer talked with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the N.Y. Jets-Cincinnati AFC playoff game. Reedy asked if both Seattle and Washington satisfied the Rooney Rule in their head coaching search, and Goodell said that both teams did.

“They have in both cases,” Goodell told the Enquirer. “I can assure you they have complied with the rule with the information that I have. I mean I’ve been in contact with them so they’ve been in compliance. I can’t give all the details but they’re in compliance.”

The Seahawks reportedly interviewed Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie …

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