Pete Carroll: Nervous in Seattle

Not so fast, my friends.  It's nervous time in Seattle.  That apparently done deal between the Seahawks and Pete Carroll is apparently not a done deal—yet.

According to reports from ESPN's Shelly Smith and CBSSports.com, the Seahawks are not going to appoint Pete Carroll as the President of the club.  Instead, they are looking to hire a head coach and a general manager separately.

Most likely the ball is now in Pete Carroll's court.  Will the heat of possible NCAA sanctions and players at USC either opting for the NFL Draft or transferring force Carroll to forgo his demands for total control and instead accept only the head coaching position in Seattle?

In case he does decide to vacate the mess at USC and any accountability, names of a possible replacement are being urgently tossed around.

Mike Riley, head coach at Oregon State, tops the list.  Former alum and USC defensive back, Jeff Fisher has scratched his name from the list.  He prefers to stay with the Titans rather than face the music at his alma mater.

Jack Del Rio, on the other hand, is seriously interested.  He is meeting with Jacksonville Jaguar executives this week.  Should they fire him, he would definitely take the USC job if offered.

Former NFL assistant and head coach, Herm Edwards says he wants the job.  Washington Husky head coach and former USC assistant, Steve Sarkisian, says he is not interested.  He plans to stay at Washington, calling it his "dream job".

Meanwhile, due to the upheaval and confusion at USC, the Trojans were bypassed by several top prospects today at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl including USC commit Kyle Prater, a top wide receiver, who was set to enter USC on Monday, and Moreno Valley defensive end, Ronald Powell, who committed to Florida.

One thing is certain in my opinion, Urban Meyer has handled his situation at Florida much better than Pete Carroll has handled the USC situation, leaving the university and its recruits hanging without a word while he negotiates with the Seahawks.  His timing couldn't have been worse.