NFL ROUNDUP News and notes

Raiders: Dallas Cowboys assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach Sean Payton was interviewed for a second time Monday. Raiders spokesman Artie Gigantino confirmed the interview late Monday. Payton arrived in the area Sunday night to meet with owner Al Davis, who's looking for a coach to replace Bill Callahan, fired after a 4-12 season. Payton, one of four candidates to speak face-to-face with Davis, is the only person to come back for a second interview.
Texans: Veteran assistant coach Joe Pendry was hired three other coaches had their duties shifted. Pendry, who was offensive coordinator under coach Dom Capers at Carolina for three seasons before moving to the same job with the Buffalo Bills from 1998-2000, will replace Tony Marciano as offensive line coach. Marciano, whose unit took much of the blame for David Carr being sacked 76 times in 2002, oversaw a line that allowed only 36 last season. He will take over tight ends from Greg Roman, who will fill the newly created position of quarterbacks coach. Until now, Chris Palmer had tutored quarterbacks as part of his duties as offensive coordinator.
Falcons: Two experienced assistant coaches were hired as the new defensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Ed Donatell will become the top defensive assistant to new head coach Jim Mora. The Falcons also hired Alex Gibbs as offensive line coach. Gibbs worked for the Denver Broncos as an assistant coach and offensive line coach over the last nine seasons, but he's worked mostly as a consultant to the team the last three seasons. Donatell's defense with the Packers produced the most turnovers -- 116 -- over the last three years of any team in the NFL. The Falcons ranked last in yards allowed and 30th in points allowed under coordinator Wade Phillips in 2003. Mora and Donatell will be shifting the Falcons from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense. Under Donatell, Green Bay ranked 17th in yards allowed and 11th in points allowed in the 32-team league. Due to depression and exhaustion, Gibbs moved into semiretirement in 2000. For the past three years he has remained with the Broncos in an advisory role, working with the offensive line in training camp. He also helped to assemble game plans and assisted on game days during the regular season. Gibbs also worked as an assistant coach at the University of Georgia under coach Vince Dooley from 1982-83.
Bengals: Bruce Coslet is rejoining the team as a part-time scout. Coslet was the Bengals' offensive coordinator from 1986 to 1989 and was 21-39 as head coach from 1996 to 2000. Coslet also was head coach of the New York Jets in 1990-93 and offensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys in 2002.
Early entries: Miami was the hardest-hit school when the official list of early entries for the NFL draft was released Monday, losing All-Americans Kellen Winslow and Sean Taylor, along with standout defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. The three Hurricanes were among 41 players who left school early for the draft. That list does not include Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett and Pittsburgh receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who have spent only two years in college. NFL rules require that a player's graduating class must be three years removed from high school to enter the draft. But Fitzgerald spent a year at a prep school before entering Pitt and is hoping to get a special waiver. "We are in the process of clarifying his status," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Monday. ESPN.com, citing unnamed league sources, reported Sunday that Fitzgerald would be ruled eligible for the draft. At issue is whether his prep school time constitutes one year out of high school. Clarett was suspended this season for accepting improper benefits from a family friend and lying about it to investigators. He filed a federal lawsuit in New York on Sept. 23 challenging the NFL's rule and a ruling could come by Feb. 1. National champions Southern California and LSU each lost key players early as well. USC All-American defensive end Kenechi Udeze joined LSU quarterback Matt Mauck and receiver Michael Clayton on the list. Arkansas was also hit hard, losing All-American offensive tackle Shawn Andrews, defensive back Ahmad Carroll, tight end Jason Peters and fullback Mark Pierce. Virginia Tech lost running back Kevin Jones and cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Other prominent players on the list include Ohio State cornerback Chris Gamble, Oklahoma defensive tackle Tommie Harris, Oregon State running back Steven Jackson, Georgia defensive back Sean Jones, Miami of Ohio quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Florida State receiver P.K. Sam, Maryland defensive tackle Randy Starks and Washington receiver Reggie Williams.
Early entries: Miami was the hardest-hit school when the official list of early entries for the NFL draft was released Monday, losing All-Americans Kellen Winslow and Sean Taylor, along with standout defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. The three Hurricanes were among 41 players who left school early for the draft. That list does not include Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett and Pittsburgh receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who have spent only two years in college. NFL rules require that a player's graduating class must be three years removed from high school to enter the draft. But Fitzgerald spent a year at a prep school before entering Pitt and is hoping to get a special waiver. "We are in the process of clarifying his status," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Monday. ESPN.com, citing unnamed league sources, reported Sunday that Fitzgerald would be ruled eligible for the draft. At issue is whether his prep school time constitutes one year out of high school. Clarett was suspended this season for accepting improper benefits from a family friend and lying about it to investigators. He filed a federal lawsuit in New York on Sept. 23 challenging the NFL's rule and a ruling could come by Feb. 1. National champions Southern California and LSU each lost key players early as well. USC All-American defensive end Kenechi Udeze joined LSU quarterback Matt Mauck and receiver Michael Clayton on the list. Arkansas was also hit hard, losing All-American offensive tackle Shawn Andrews, defensive back Ahmad Carroll, tight end Jason Peters and fullback Mark Pierce. Virginia Tech lost running back Kevin Jones and cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Other prominent players on the list include Ohio State cornerback Chris Gamble, Oklahoma defensive tackle Tommie Harris, Oregon State running back Steven Jackson, Georgia defensive back Sean Jones, Miami of Ohio quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Florida State receiver P.K. Sam, Maryland defensive tackle Randy Starks and Washington receiver Reggie Williams.