A Seahawks spokesman refused to comment, and Carroll did not return a phone call from the AP.
Leiweke fired Mora during a morning meeting at team headquarters, ending a 4-week internal evaluation the CEO conducted of his floundering franchise. Hours later, the team confirmed the firing in a news release. Mora finished his only Seattle season with a 5-11 record, and has 3 years and almost $12 million remaining on his contract.
"This team, more importantly this community, means so much to me that it hurts not being able to see this through," Seattle native Mora said in the team statement. "I am disappointed I did not get the chance to complete my contract."
Noteworthy
* First-time nominees Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith head the list of 17 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Others are receivers Tim Brown, Cris Carter and Andre Reed, tight end Shannon Sharpe, running back Roger Craig, center Dermontti Dawson, guard Russ Grimm, defensive tackles John Randle and Cortez Kennedy, defensive end Richard Dent, DE/linebacker Charles Haley, linebacker Rickey Jackson, and coach Don Coryell. Two senior nominees are running back Floyd Little and cornerback Dick LeBeau, currently the Steelers' defensive coordinator. The voting by a 44-member panel will take place Feb. 6, with the Class of 2010 inducted in Canton, Ohio in August.
* Barely a month after getting fired at Notre Dame, Charlie Weis has officially signed to become offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs.
* New York Jets offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson has been added to the AFC team for the Pro Bowl, replacing injured Dolphins tackle Jake Long.
* Aaron Childress, the 24-year-old son of Vikings coach Brad Childress, was charged with drunken driving after being arrested early last Saturday in St. Paul.
* Arizona's Anquan Boldin did not practice yesterday because of a left high ankle sprain, a condition compounded by a sprained left knee, and was listed as questionable for tomorrow's playoff game with Green Bay.
