CARROLL LISTENS, BLANK TALKS USC FOOTBALL: 'CORDIAL' CONVERSATION DOESN'T PRODUCE OFFER.

Byline: Scott Wolf 

Staff Writer

USC coach Pete Carroll and the Atlanta Falcons held an "extremely cordial" conversation Wednesday, according to sources, but no job offer was discussed and right now it appears unlikely that Carroll would leave the Trojans for the NFL team.

The pair spoke on the telephone, with Carroll at his vacation home in Hawaii and Blank in Atlanta. Whether the pair would speak again was not immediately known.

Sources said the Falcons informed Carroll they would still interview other candidates. The Falcons are reportedly expected to interview Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith and Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

Carroll is still in Hawaii and is not expected back at USC until Monday, when he meets with the Trojans on the first day of the spring semester. Since he was contacted by the Falcons, he has only spoken to USC's sports information office and repeated a quote from Jan. 2 that "there's nothing going on."

Carroll did not deny speaking with the Falcons, however, and Atlanta was expected to discuss the idea of giving Carroll control over personnel decisions, which is something he previously said was a prerequisite for coaching an NFL team.

Before the Rose Bowl, Carroll was not enthusiastic about the Falcons job.

"They've had a lot of problems there," Carroll said. "It's not the most sought-after job. I'm not sure who they would hire."