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Dennis Green interviewed for the head coaching job with the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday, insisting he genuinely is interested in working for a franchise that long has been the NFL's wasteland.
``If I wasn't interested, I wouldn't be here,'' he said.
Green also said he has had conversations with the Washington Redskins and plans to meet with them about the vacancy created by Steve Spurrier's resignation.
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For the past two years, Green said, he has enjoyed working as an ESPN analyst
and spending time with his wife and two young children at their home in San
Diego.
``But I've grown up with the game of football, I've coached football for 30 years. I've always had a great passion for football,'' Green said. ``I think if the opportunity is right, I would love to coach again. But it would have to be right. I wouldn't do it just to do it.''
The man who coached the Minnesota Vikings' for 10 years was the first of four candidates to be interviewed by the Cardinals this week in their search for a replacement for Dave McGinnis, who was fired on Monday.
Owner Bill Bidwill, his son and Cardinals vice president Michael Bidwill, and vice president for player personnel Rod Graves will be in Philadelphia on Thursday to interview Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. They will go to New England Friday to talk with Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.
Jim Fassel, a former Cardinals assistant just fired by the New York Giants, will come to Arizona for an interview on Saturday.
The Cardinals have had one winning season since 1984, were 4-12 in McGinnis' last year and have seen their fan base dwindle to about 20,000 for home games.
Green said any job he takes would have to be with an organization committed to winning.
``I think from talking with Mr. Bidwill, with Michael, with Rod, the Arizona Cardinals want to win,'' Green said. ``The Arizona Cardinals want to bring a championship to the citizens of Arizona.''
Green compared the possibility of him coming to the Cardinals with the hiring of manager Dusty Baker by the Chicago Cubs.
``I would take the same approach,'' Green said. ``What I'm accustomed to doing is helping the team feel good about themselves and play hard and go all out and winning close ball games. It doesn't matter so much what Arizona has done in the past, how many games they've won. As much as anything it matters with the coaches. How many games have they won?''
He said the Cardinals should be able to build a winner in a hurry.
``If I was to come here, the first clear-cut goal would be to go to the playoffs in the first year,'' Green said. ``With the Minnesota Vikings, the first three years we went to the playoffs. We were rebuilding a program, but that doesn't mean you don't win while you're rebuilding.''
He said he thinks there is a base of talent to build around.
``As I told the family, what I like first is a big, physical offensive line,'' Green said. ``That's where you begin. They're talented. A lot of guys are first-round draft picks. I like the running back situation. I think there is more talent on offense -- meaning line, receivers and running backs -- than there is on defense. They're younger on defense.''
Green, who coached at Northwestern and Stanford, was asked about the personal problems he had off the field when he was at Minnesota.
``I don't worry too much about the past,'' he said. ``I've been co-chairman of the competition committee with (Atlanta Falcons' president) Rich McKay. Mr. Bidwill has been at league meetings and seen me sitting at the right hand of the commissioner. I am married, two beautiful small children, and have a lot of faith in myself.''
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