Dick LeBeau to Cardinals 'doesn't appear it's going to happen'; James Bettcher likely to be DC

Fans planning to have legendary defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau join the Arizona Cardinals defensive staff will be disappointed with the new information regarding the situation. After Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Gerry Dulac said LeBeau is not going to take a position coach job, local reporter and radio host Mike Jurecki reported on the air Thursday "it doesn't appear it's going to happen."

According to what Jurecki is now hearing about a situation that is being called "fluid" is it is a question of geography. With a home in Cincinnati and his wife having a good job there, LeBeau doesn't really want to be west of the Mississippi.

"It has nothing to do with titles," Jurecki said on the air (the report starts about the 101-minute mark of the podcast). "It's basically about location and it wouldn't surprise me if he ends up on the Titans."

Tennessee head coach Ken Whisenhunt is apparently offering a co-defensive coordinator position to work with Ray Horton. Whisenhunt, Horton and LeBeau all were on the Steelers staff together.

Jurecki noted he did not know if there were going to be any more talks with LeBeau.

He also reported the internal candidate most likely to become the Cardinals new defensive coordinator is outside linebackers coach James Bettcher. He and Nick Rapone are being considered for the position.

Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles left Arizona to become the head coach of the New York Jets. He took with him linebackers coach Mike Caldwell to be his assistant head coach. Defensive backs assistant Ryan Slowik is also leaving to join the Jets staff, too, according to Jurecki on Thursday as well. Slowik's name came up as a possible staff member leaving at the time of the hiring.

Caldwell had a year left on his contract. He was the only coach under contract Bowles was allowed to take with him. Jurecki said Slowik's contract had expired.

Arizona has three vacancies on the staff -- defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and a defensive backs assistant position. If Bettcher is promoted to defensive coordinator, the team will add outside linebackers coach to the list.