Here's the top five candidates:
1. Charlie Weis, Notre Dame: Two months into his first season with the Irish last year, the school extended Weis' deal five years through 2015. By the end of the deal, he will make a reported $30 million-$40 million at Notre Dame, which obviously struck quickly to fight off suitors from the NFL. When he signed the extension, Weis said he plans to retire at Notre Dame. So it may not be easy to get him to leave - and it could be costly, depending on any buyout provisions - but the Giants might be the only team that could entice the Jersey guy to leave South Bend. He desperately wanted the Giants job three years ago, but finished second to Coughlin. The other candidates interviewed then were Romeo Crennel and Lovie Smith. Weis developed Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn into the likely first pick in the 2007 NFL draft after helping turn Tom Brady into a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots. If Coughlin goes, the Giants would salivate at the prospect of Weis straightening out Manning. The Giants have always been Weis' dream job.
2. Cam Cameron, Chargers offensive coordinator: He's well respected and has done a great job in San Diego with Drew Brees and Philip Rivers. Now that Marty Ball has been put in storage, Cameron's offense is flying.
3. Jeff Fisher, Titans: Tennessee holds a $5 million option on him next year. This will be his third straight losing season. If the Titans let him go, or if Fisher asks out, he will be the hottest coach on the market. He's been the head coach of the Oilers/Titans since the 11th game of the 1994 season, the second longest tenure after Bill Cowher. If Bill Parcells is not coaching the Cowboys next year, it could be Fisher.
4. Bill Parcells, Cowboys: If he's available, he jumps to the No. 1 spot. The Giants would have brought him back instead of hiring Fassel in 1997 if George Young didn't object. The Giants fell apart one year too late to get Parcells back in 2004 after they fired Fassel. He took the Cowboys job in 2003. Parcells is signed in Dallas through next season. There were indications that this was going to be his final year and he would retire. But the emergence of Tony Romo has energized Parcells. He has one of the best young teams in the league. If the Cowboys don't win the Super Bowl this year, Parcells might be inclined to stick around and go for it next year. But if he and Jerry Jones decide four years is enough, then finishing up where he started as a head coach before heading to Saratoga and Florida might be a perfect final chapter to his career.
5. Tim Lewis, Giants defensive coordinator: He had an impressive interview with the Jets last year. He got the Giants' defense straightened out after the Seattle debacle and it was playing very well until losing six starters to injuries. If the Giants stay in-house, he would be the logical choice.
