For Pete's Sake!

Carroll: Move not result of USC probe
ESPN.com news services

Pete Carroll all but confirmed on Monday morning his resignation as football coach of USC to join the Seattle Seahawks in the same position.

Talking with the Los Angeles Times, Carroll said his pending move wasn't in reaction to possible sanctions the Trojans' program faces as a result of an ongoing investigation over whether players may have received improper benefits.

"Not in any way," Carroll told the newspaper. "Because I know where we stand. It's just a process we have to go through. We know we've fought hard to do right."



Carroll, a longtime coach and coordinator in the NFL before joining USC in 2000, said he had for a while "given up" on a return to the pro ranks.

"But it came out of nowhere," he told the Times.

Carroll had earlier reached an agreement in principle with the Seahawks, multiple NFL sources confirmed to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Saturday morning.


"I've given everything I've had," he said. "There was never going to be a good time."

Seahawks chief executive officer Tod Leiweke was in Los Angeles on Sunday to finalize the deal, the Times had reported.

The newspaper also reported that USC players received text messages Carroll would resign. A USC spokesperson told ESPN.com on Sunday night that the school had nothing official to announce.

Well if you're buying the idea that Pete Carroll's escape from L.A. isn't related to the NCAA investigation then I've got some ocean front property in Pecos that I'd like to sell you. I'm guessing somebody in Indianapolis tipped Pete Carroll off (because he's such a super guy) and he decided to get out while the getting was good. Reggie Bush better get to work scratching his name off that Heisman before they take it back.

I was discussing this matter with college football afficianado Brian Welch yesterday and he mentioned that it was odd that we didn't see the usual two week "I'm not interested, I'm staying with my team" dance with Pete Carroll and the Seahawks. Probably because the deck of cards is about to fall. Pete got out of there like Giovanni Ribisi did before the raid in 'Boiler Room.' I just hope Pete finds a nice penthouse in Seattle for him and his grad student mistress. Seattle aint Malibu.