Ravens, Garrett Unable to Complete Contract

OWINGS MILLS, Md., Jan. 15 -- Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett underwent a second round of interviews for the Baltimore Ravens' head coaching job on Tuesday, but left the training facility without accepting the position.

According to a source, Garrett was offered the job, but the sides could not complete a contract. He was expected to travel to Atlanta for a second round of interviews with the Falcons, and negotiations with the Ravens reportedly were ongoing even as Garrett was headed there.

He is considered to be the front-runner to replace Brian Billick, who was fired Dec. 31 following a 5-11 season. He is the first candidate to come back for a second round of interviews, and he spent the day meeting with owner Steve Bisciotti, team president Dick Cass and General Manager Ozzie Newsome.

"It's been a great day. I'm going to continue the process that I'm in right now, and at some point we'll make some decisions on both sides," Garrett said. "But it was a great second visit with these guys, and I really enjoyed the process of doing that."

He did not take questions from reporters, and neither he nor the Ravens would confirm Garrett had received an offer. Newsome declined to comment, and neither Bisciotti nor Cass were made available to reporters.

Garrett, 41, has been an NFL coach for three years, but he is in great demand this offseason. In his first season as a coordinator, Garrett directed a Cowboys offense that was among the league's most prolific, finishing second in points and third in yardage. According to a report on ESPN.com, Dallas owner Jerry Jones is prepared to match the financial terms of any head coaching offer Garrett receives in order to keep him with the Cowboys.

Garrett arrived in Baltimore Monday night along with his wife, Brill, and the couple had dinner with the Bisciotti family. Garrett spent six hours at the team's training facility Tuesday, while his wife toured the local community.

The Ravens will hold more second-round interviews later in the week, according to spokesman Kevin Byrne, most likely resuming Thursday after Newsome gets back from a scouting trip to the East-West Shrine Game practices.

The Ravens have interviewed their former defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan, who was fired along with Billick and the rest of the assistants; Dallas Cowboys assistant head coach Tony Sparano; Indianapolis Colts assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell; New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer; and Philadelphia Eagles secondary coach John Harbaugh.

Ryan said Tuesday afternoon he had not been contacted for a second interview with the Ravens.

"I'm just hanging out, playing the waiting game," said Ryan, who spent the afternoon at the team's training facility. He was in Atlanta Monday for a second round of interviews with the Falcons, and he also has interviewed with the Miami Dolphins for their head coaching vacancy.