IRVING, Texas (AP) -Waiting two hours on a Chicago runway, Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera wondered if icy weather really was delaying his flight to a job interview in Dallas.

``There was a vicious rumor going around Chicago didn't want me to leave so they weren't going to let the plane go,'' Rivera said, laughing.

Rivera finally arrived at Cowboys headquarters around 4 p.m. Tuesday. He spoke with reporters before meeting with team owner Jerry Jones to discuss the head coaching vacancy created when Bill Parcells retired more than two weeks ago.

Rivera didn't officially become a candidate until speaking with Jones for a few minutes Monday night. However, he'd been expecting the call since Jones decided to hold the job open through Super Bowl week, when Rivera was off-limits because he was getting his team ready for the game.

``Just the fact that Mr. Jones waited until now, that bodes well for me,'' Rivera said.

Rivera was the ninth person Jones interviewed. Indianapolis quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell will become No. 10 on Wednesday.

Having lost to Caldwell and the Colts on Sunday, Rivera spent Monday stewing over it. He was glad to have had a day in between the game and the get-together with Jones.

``It gave me a chance to go through some things in my mind and have a feel for them,'' he said. ``I had a little chance to take a quick look at the Cowboys one last time.''

What did he see?

``Some things that can be implemented to really help this defense,'' he said.

Dallas went 9-7 this past season, with a loss to Seattle in the first round of the playoffs. The Cowboys, who haven't won a playoff game since 1996, collapsed in December and January primarily because of breakdowns on defense.

Rivera, 45, played nine seasons in the NFL and has been a coach for 10, the last three as defensive coordinator of the Bears. Although he's never been a head coach, he's interviewed several times this postseason and last offseason.

A big question surrounding this opening is how legitimate a candidate he is for the top job. There's speculation that San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner has it locked up, and that Jones wants Rivera as defensive coordinator.

Although that would be a lateral move, it's possible because Rivera's contract with Chicago is expiring. He might be willing to leave a great defense to run a mediocre one for more than just the challenge - Jones likely would pay Rivera more than the Bears, who have a lot of other coaches in line for raises.

When asked his chances of becoming defensive coordinator, Rivera said: ``I am here to discuss being the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.''

Rivera likely has an idea of what it would be like to work for Turner because he's worked alongside Turner's brother, Ron, the Bears' offensive coordinator.

Rivera knows second-hand about working for Jones, having discussed it with Chicago quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson, who had the same job in Dallas from 2000-02.

The biggest challenge Rivera might face with the Cowboys - as the coach or as defensive coordinator - is adapting a roster built for the 3-4 scheme into his 4-3 system.

He said it's not much of an issue because Dallas frequently used a four-man front. And part of his coaching philosophy is to mold plans around players.

``I think a lot of times guys get caught up in 'this is the only thing I do' and not use the talent around them,'' he said. ``The truth of the matter is, it's all about the players.''

Rivera was a linebacker for the Bears from 1984-92, winning a championship with the '85 team that had Buddy Ryan as the defensive coordinator.

After retiring, he spent four years talking football on television, then broke into coaching with the Bears in 1997. He was linebackers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles under Jim Johnson from 1999-2003, then returned to Chicago as defensive coordinator when Lovie Smith took over.

Rivera credits Ryan, Johnson and Smith for helping form his approach to defense. The result has helped his Bears consistently rank among the league leaders in fewest yards and points allowed, and near the top in turnovers.

As for his offensive approach, it's pretty simple: ``I do think you have to run the ball to be successful in this league.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.