One day after receiving permission to talk to him, the Oakland Raiders were politely turned down by the man they wished to interview -- Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey.

Mularkey told the Raiders yesterday he does not want to be a candidate for the head coaching position left vacant by the firing of Bill Callahan.

Mularkey has emerged as one of the leading candidates to become the head coach with the Buffalo Bills, but it does not appear that is the reason he declined the interview with the Raiders.

The Raiders are having a tough time finding candidates to replace Callahan, who was fired one year after leading Oakland to the AFC championship. They have interviewed former Minnesota coach Dennis Green, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders and San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Knapp.

Meantime, Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Greg Blache is scheduled to interview Wednesday with Coach Bill Cowher about becoming the Steelers' defensive coordinator.

Initially, the Bears denied the Steelers permission to speak to Blache, who still has a year remaining on his contract. But, apparently, they changed their mind and decided to let him visit the Steelers.

Blache, though, will meet Tuesday with Bears general manager Jerry Angelo.

The Bears received permission to speak with Steelers offensive line coach Russ Grimm about becoming their head coach, replacing Dick Jauron. The Bears had hoped to hire LSU Coach Nick Saban, but he opted yesterday to stay in Baton Rouge, La.

As of yet, no interview has been formally scheduled for Grimm, 44.

Former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, 66, will meet Tuesday with Cowher about returning for the same position. LeBeau spent the past season working as a defensive consultant/assistant head coach with the Bills.