By Danny Cox

The football world works extremely fast sometimes and there isn’t a day that goes by without some big piece of news coming out of nowhere. One day the biggest NFL news story can take center stage, and by the next day, it can take a back burner to something else or go in a different direction. That is exactly what’s happening lately, and there is no way of really knowing what will happen until it does happen.

Ray Lewis already close to a deal with ESPN

(Credit, Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

It was just announced on Wednesday that Baltimore Ravens star linebacker Ray Lewis would be retiring at the end of the 2012 season. Many expected that he would end up getting a job in the world of television and sports broadcasting some day. Well, it appears as if that day is already close to being a reality.

Lewis is already close to signing a multiyear contract with ESPN and is expected to have a significant role on “Monday Night Countdown. He will also be featured on numerous other platforms, but ESPN’s spokesperson would not comment on the situation when asked about it on Thursday.

Reports state that Lewis and his representatives met with several NFL broadcast networks during the season, but ESPN appears closest to signing him.

Andy Reid closer to coaching Chiefs more so than the Cards

Everyone thought that former Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid was a “done deal” in Arizona and that he would be coaching the Cardinals next season. Now, that deal doesn’t appear nearly as done as expected, and it seems as if Reid is on the verge of becoming the next head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

League sources said that Reid had nine hours of meetings with the Chiefs’ brass on Wednesday, and that negotiations still continue on salary, coaching budgets, and organizational structure. Still, that doesn’t mean Reid won’t end up in KC because that deal seems even closer to being done than the one in Arizona did.

As of right now, it is hard to believe anything because the next thing anyone knows, Reid could be “very close” to becoming the new head coach of the Chicago Bears. While sources are currently saying that Reid is very close to ending up in Kansas City, let’s wait until it happens to really believe it.

With Andy Reid out of the running, Cardinals get permission to talk to Todd Haley

With all the talk of Andy Reid now heading to Kansas City, the Arizona Cardinals realize they must turn their head coaching search in another direction. The team has now received permission to interview Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley for the position.

Haley, ironically is the former head coach of the Chiefs, but was the offensive coordinator of the Cardinals during their Super Bowl run in 2008. It is said that Haley already has a good relationship with Cardinals president Michael Bidwill.

Two other prospects are in the running for the Cardinals position of head coach. Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy is set to interview on Saturday for the spot. Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton already had his formal interview with the team on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Danny Cox knows a little something about the NFL, whether it means letting you know what penalty will come from the flag just thrown on the field or quickly spouting off who the Chicago Bears drafted in the first round of the 1987 draft (Jim Harbaugh). He plans on bringing you the best news, previews, recaps, and anything else that may come along with the exciting world of the National Football League. His work can be found on Examiner.com.