ATLANTA - New England offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels said Monday his interview for the Atlanta Falcons coaching vacancy was fine.McDaniels also interviewed with the San Francisco 49ers last week. In his weekly conference call, he described the interviews as initial meetings.They were fine, McDaniels said. Its part of the process and (youre) always obviously privileged that anybody wants to speak with you about anything like that.The Falcons are expected to interview former Jets coach Rex Ryan on Tuesday. Ryan had two interviews with Atlanta before the team hired Mike Smith in 2008.Smith was fired last week following a 6-10 finish in 2014.McDaniels would bring another Patriots connection to an Atlanta franchise already heavily influenced by New Englands philosophies.Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff was New Englands director of college scouting before he came to Atlanta in 2008.Scott Pioli was hired as Atlantas assistant general manager last year. Pioli was director of player personnel for the Patriots from 2000-08, including six years with Dimitroff.Dimitroffs future with the Falcons could be determined by the direction of the coach search.Falcons owner Arthur Blank said last week hell reassess the front office, including Dimitroff, after the coach is hired.Everything relative to football operations outside of coaching is up for scrutiny and discussion, Blank said. We havent finished that process.Dimitroff is part of the coach search. However, the Falcons have hired the Korn Ferry search firm and added former Chiefs and Eagles executive Joe Banner as a consultant.It is possible a more established coach such as Ryan could ask for more authority in personnel decisions than a first-time head coach.Blank said experience as a head coach is not important, in my view. He said there will not be a question about authority after the coach is hired.This will not be a power struggle, Blank said. It will not be an issue of who has the final say.McDaniels said he is focused on preparing for this weeks playoff game against Baltimore.Asked if he wants to remain under consideration with the Falcons and 49ers, he said Honestly, I just had an initial meeting with them and it hasnt really gone any farther in any direction. ... Im sure theyll do what they need to do on their end, and Im sure those things will take care of themselves in the future.Meanwhile, Arizona coach Bruce Arians said the Falcons, Bears and Jets have requested permission to interview Cardinals defensive co-ordinator Todd Bowles.Bowles can be interviewed this week following the Cardinals loss to Carolina in the playoffs. Similarly, Detroit defensive co-ordinator Teryl Austin is available for interviews following the Lions playoff loss to the Cowboys.The Falcons also interviewed Broncos offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase on Friday and former Bills coach Doug Marrone on Monday, according to multiple reports.Marrone, who opted out of his contract with the Bills following a 9-7 season, is a former assistant coach at Georgia Tech and Georgia and a former Syracuse head coach.Smith had a 66-46 regular-season record in seven seasons, including two NFC South titles. The Falcons won only one of five playoff games with Smith. Following winning records in each of Smiths first five seasons, Atlanta was only 10-22 the last two years.Ryan was 46-50 in six seasons with the Jets. He was 4-2 in the post-season with AFC championship game appearances in each of his first two years.___Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___AP Sports Writers Howard Ulman in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Bob Baum in Tempe, Arizona, contributed to this report. Dan Marino Youth Jersey . "I just think what it does for everybody in life is real simple," said Babcock early on Friday afternoon. "You dont give in. You just keep on keeping on. Is it going to go your way every time? No. But you choose your attitude and how you perform and how hard you dig in." Nearly four years to the day of the 2010 gold medal match in Vancouver, his team dug in with its best effort of these Olympics, snuffing out the high-powered Americans for another opportunity at gold. Cameron Wake Jersey . -- Stanley Johnson scored all 18 of his points in the second half, T. http://www.dolphinsrookiestore.com/Dolphins-Mark-Duper-Jersey/ . -- Jimmie Johnson has a sixth NASCAR championship in hand and two legends within reach. Michael Deiter Womens Jersey . Poti played in 824 regular NHL games with four teams in his career; the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals. Larry Csonka Jersey .28 for a combined time of 1:14.70, also an Olympic record. Lee won the gold medal, defending her title from the Vancouver Games.Niki Lauda has told Sky Sports News HQ he wants Nico Rosbergs Mercedes future sorted in the next three weeks. Rosberg has been with the world champions since 2010 but his current deal expires at the end of this season, with reports in Italy linking him with a high-profile switch to rivals Ferrari.Both driver and team have been insistent that they would like things to stay as they are, however, and Mercedes non-executive chairman Lauda wants the situation cleared up soon. Im sure we want to keep Nico, and Nico wants to stay, Lauda told Sky Sports News HQs Craig Slater at the Monaco GP. I dont see any issues at all and this will be fixed very soon.Monaco GP P2: Ricciardo faster than HamiltonWe have to decide it in the next three weeks. This is my point of view, to let him know that we all stick together for the next couple of years.This is my suggestion, but Im only the chairman. Toto [Wolff] will handle it and Ill watch it. Nico Rosberg refused to answer questions on whether he had spoken to Lewis Hamilton since their coming together in Spain Mercedes confirmed a new three-year deal for Hamilton at last years race in the principality, but team boss Toto Wolff told SSNHQ on Wednesday there would be no such announcement regarding Rosbergs future this weekend.But Wolff, who has been quoted in the foreign media talking up Fernando Alonso as a possible replacement, was eager to downplay the possibility of Rosberg, thhe current championship leader, leaving.ddddddddddddThe F1 Gossip ColumnWe are having talks and we are just finding out what we want, what each others objectives are, and this is a regular process, the teams principal said.I would not be surprised [if he was approached by Ferrari]. Hes a great driver, hes a good asset for everybody. I dont know if it happened, but if it happened thats pretty normal. Sky Italias Antonio Boselli discusses the rumours on the possible Nico Rosberg move to Ferrari But would the long-running feud between himself and Hamilton affect the decision, especially after their crash at the Spanish GP?Absolutely not, Wolff added. Hes been part of the Mercedes family since the journey began in 2010, hes the current championship leader, has won seven races in a row, nobody ever doubts in his capabilities.Rosberg has four wins to his name this season but was off the pace on the first day of running in Monaco, trailing Lewis Hamilton in both sessions.Watch the Monaco GP live on Sky Sports F1. The race starts at 1pm on Sunday, with build-up underway at 11.30am. Or watch the race without a contract for £6.99 on NOW TV. Also See: Ricciardo faster than Hamilton Hamilton & Rosberg hold talks Whens the Monaco GP on Sky? Nico: Lewis relations unchanged ' ' '