Lake Forest, Ill. ? The Chicago Bears’ search for a coach is winding down.

General manager Jerry Angelo said Tuesday he wanted time to think after a second interview with St. Louis defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, one of two finalists for the job. Pittsburgh offensive line coach Russ Grimm is the other finalist, though Angelo said he still might consider a third candidate from the NFL.

“I want to do something here shortly,” Angelo said. “I want to have a little time today (and) in the morning just to see for sure on the direction I want to go.”

Angelo is looking for a replacement for Dick Jauron, who was fired Dec. 29 after four losing seasons in five years.

Angelo didn’t say who the potential third candidate was other than it was someone in the NFL whose team was not in the playoffs. That would rule out New England defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who was interviewed Dec. 31.

It also isn’t former Giants coach Jim Fassel. While Angelo said he had tremendous respect for Fassel, he is wary about bringing in a coach who was fired.

“I just have a problem you know with us not winning (and) hiring somebody that was released because he didn’t win,” Angelo said. “Maybe in another place another time it would have been fine, but my vision for our next coach was not that.”

While Angelo has said improving Chicago’s sputtering offense was a priority, Smith’s experience is all defensive.

Smith began his coaching career in 1980 at his high school in Big Sandy, Texas. He was a defensive position coach at the college level from 1983-96, when Tony Dungy hired him to be linebackers coach on his first staff in Tampa Bay.

It was in Tampa Bay that Smith first met Angelo, then the Buccaneers’ player personnel director.

“I think it helps when you know someone, know a little bit about them,” Smith said of his relationship with Angelo. “He knows a little bit about me and my family.”

Raiders

Alameda, Calif. — The Oakland Raiders interviewed Dallas offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon Tuesday for their head-coaching vacancy.

Carthon becomes the fourth candidate to speak face-to-face with owner Al Davis, who is looking for a coach to replace Bill Callahan, fired after a 4-12 season.

The Raiders interviewed Dennis Green before he took the job with Arizona, spoke to San Francisco offensive coordinator Greg Knapp last week and Cowboys’ assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach Sean Payton earlier this week.

Davis also is looking for a general manager after senior assistant Bruce Allen left for Tampa Bay to be the GM.

Rams

St. Louis — Special teams coach Bobby April will not have his contract renewed by St. Louis, the first fallout from the team’s second-round playoff loss.

A team spokesman confirmed Tuesday that April, 50, who has been with the team for three seasons, would not be back for the 2004 season. The Rams were last in the NFL in punt coverage and 30th in kickoff coverage.