WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis interviewed Tuesday with the Cincinnati Bengals for their head coaching job, a Redskins source confirmed Thursday.
Lewis told The Washington Post on Wednesday that he had not interviewed for the position and had only spoken to Bengals President Mike Brown "for about 12 seconds." But on the same day, Lewis told CNNSI.com that he spent most of Tuesday meeting with Bengals officials.
Lewis could not be reached for comment early Thursday to explain the discrepancy in his statements.
The Cincinnati job could be the final opportunity for Lewis to land a head-coaching position in the NFL this offseason. One of the three vacancies was filled Thursday when Bill Parcells officially agreed to a four-year, $17.1 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys.
That leaves Cincinnati and Jacksonville with head-coaching vacancies, and Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver reportedly is focusing on candidates with previous head-coaching experience, including former Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green.
The Redskins granted a request by Bengals President Mike Brown to interview Lewis, who oversaw the league's fifth-ranked defense this season.
A league official said Wednesday Lewis had been receiving conflicting advice about whether to take the Cincinnati job if it's offered to him. The Bengals were 2-14, leading Brown to fire Dick LeBeau as his coach on Monday, and haven't had a winning record since 1990.
There is a question about how much of a raise the Bengals would offer Lewis. He has two seasons remaining on a three-year contract with the Redskins that makes him the league's highest-paid assistant coach, with an annual salary of $800,000.
Lewis recently passed up a chance to be the head coach at Michigan State University to continue to pursue an NFL head-coaching job. Former Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin is regarded by some executives in the league as the front-runner for the Cincinnati job, but Brown has told other owners Lewis would be a legitimate candidate.
Brown reportedly is scheduled to interview Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey on Saturday in Pittsburgh. The Bengals' candidates reportedly also include St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and two Cincinnati assistant coaches, defensive coordinator Mark Duffner and running backs coach Jim Anderson.
