PHOENIX -- Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley
declined an invitation to interview for the head coaching job of
the Miami Dolphins, and instead signed a contract extension with
Arizona on Tuesday.
The 40-year-old coach's contract with the Cardinals now runs
through the 2010 season.
"The biggest thing to me was that I started something here,"
Haley said. "I've been here only one year and I thought we made a
lot of progress. Being a head coach is one of my goals. It will
have to wait at least a year. I think we have a chance to do
something special out here that's never been done."
The deal is worth between $1 million and $1.5 million, making
him one of the highest-paid offensive coordinators in the league
and almost certainly the highest-paid assistant coach in the
Cardinals' often-stingy history.
"Obviously, continuity is important when you've made a little
progress, and I think Todd did an outstanding job," head coach Ken
Whisenhunt said.
Speculation that Haley might be a candidate for the Dolphins job
began after Bill Parcells took over as head of football operations
for Miami and fired coach Cam Cameron following a 1-15 season.
Haley had been on Parcells' staffs with the New York Jets and
Dallas Cowboys.
"I obviously owe so much to where I'm at right now to Bill,"
Haley said. "I've learned so much from him. I got excited when I
heard he was back into the mix. Obviously it was a tough position
for me. I just wanted it to work out for everybody."
Whisenhunt praised owner Bill Bidwill and son Michael for their
willingness to make the deal.
"It's a testament to their commitment that we're doing what it
takes to win," he said.
Haley came to Arizona after Whisenhunt was hired a year ago. The
two had worked together on the Jets' staff in 2000.
"We shared an office together in New York when we both worked
with the Jets," Whisenhunt said. "I think you learn a lot about a
fellow coach when you share an office for a season. I tried to get
Todd into Pittsburgh with us, but at the time he went to Dallas."
Whisenhunt was Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator before taking
the Arizona job and called most of the plays in the Cardinals' 8-8
season. However, he said his intent is to eventually have Haley
call the plays, just as what happened with Whisenhunt under Bill
Cowher in Pittsburgh.
Arizona's offense finished sixth in the NFC in total yards,
fourth in yards passing and third in points per game. The Cardinals
set franchise records for passing touchdowns with 32, breaking the
record of 30 set 44 years ago. Arizona scored more than 20 points
in eight consecutive games.
Whisenhunt had said he hoped to keep his staff together but knew
there would be interest in some as head coaching possibilities. The
biggest name would be offensive line coach Russ Grimm, who was a
finalist for the Steelers' job a year ago and, as a former Pro Bowl
player for the Redskins, would seem a logical candidate to replace
Joe Gibbs.
Haley has been an NFL assistant for 11 years. He was wide
receivers coach and passing game coordinator for the Cowboys from
2004-06. He began his coaching career as an offensive assistant to
Parcells with the Jets in 1997. Before coming to Dallas, Haley was
the Chicago Bears' receivers coach for three years.