Spagnuolo to stay with N.Y. Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Steve Spagnuolo will remain the defensive coordinator of the Super Bowl champion New York Giants and is out as a candidate for Washington's head coaching job.

Spagnuolo was in Washington Thursday for an interview with Redskins' owner Dan Snyder.

"I appreciated Mr. Snyder giving me the opportunity to visit with him," Spagnuolo said Thursday on the Giants' Web site. "I have a great deal of respect for him and the Washington Redskins organization. I was happy to have the opportunity to explore that situation, but I am equally happy to be staying in New York."

With Spagnuolo out of the picture, the remaining names mentioned to succeed the retired Joe Gibbs are former NFL coaches Jim Fassel and Steve Mariucci and Indianapolis assistant Ron Meeks.

The names of Fassel and Spagnuolo upset a large number of Redskins fans, but Snyder has said this is an ongoing process which likely will take time for a final decision.

Shortly after Spagnuolo announced that he was not leaving, the Giants signed him to a three-year contract which several reports have said will pay him more than the $1.9 million Jacksonville will pay its new defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams.