More on this in tomorrow's paper, but I spoke with Miami Dolphins assistant head coach Todd Bowles earlier this afternoon and he said he's “very interested” in the Lions head coaching job. Bowles is expected to interview with the Lions this week, though a date and time have not yet been set.

“I got a message here that I got to get back to them,” Bowles said. “We're supposed to try to match up and see if we can make this work for them.”

Lest you think he's only a candidate because he played three seasons with new Lions general manager Martin Mayhew, Bowles is actually a very well-regarded assistant with a track record for helping turn around some of the NFL's most dismal teams. He was part of this year's resurrection in Miami, where the Dolphins went from 1-15 to 11 wins and the AFC East championship. Prior to a stint coaching defensive backs with Bill Parcells in Dallas, Bowles also was on Butch Davis' staff in Cleveland that reached the playoffs two years after taking over a 3-13 team.

“I've been part of that turnaround before and we've done these type of things,” Bowles said. “You've got to have the right people in place. It's important. It's not going to be just the head coach, it's going to be the GM, the vice president, everybody involved. It's going to be the strength coach. You got to have the right people to do the right things.”

Bowles, who's also reported to be a candidate in St. Louis, said he's not married to any one system and he's not interested in the Lions only because of Mayhew, who he said “will make a heck of a GM.”

“I think it's a great opportunity for him, I really do, and I wish him all the best,” Bowles said. “For me, if the opportunity comes I'll embrace it when it comes and I'll do the best I can to make Detroit a winner or anybody else.”

The Lions also are in the process of setting up an interview with Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Already they've interviewed Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray. According to reports, Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey is a candidate, too.