Devaney spent a half-hour on the phone with Faulk just before his session with reporters discussing "a particular guy," he said. "I said, 'Marshall, while you're out this weekend, this is a guy we're thinking about interviewing. This is what we hear about him. If you know anybody, see if you get the same thing.' That's how we'll use" Faulk.

Acquired in a trade with Indianapolis for two draft picks in 1999, Faulk spent seven seasons here. During his time in the Rams' backfield, the team won three NFC West titles and played in two Super Bowls, including the 23-16 victory over Tennessee that capped Faulk's first season in St. Louis.

He was named the NFL's most valuable player that year, when he piled up 2,429 total yards - 1,381 rushing and 1,048 receiving. He was voted the league's offensive player of the year in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

In those "Greatest Show on Turf" seasons, the Rams went 37-11 and became the first team in league history to score 500 or more points three times in a row.

Faulk, 34, declined to comment Tuesday, explaining that he wanted to discuss his role with owner Chip Rosenbloom before talking about it publicly.

Beset by knee problems, Faulk had his last season in the league in 2005. He works for the NFL Network as an analyst, which Devaney noted keeps him in touch with sources throughout the league.

The same is true of Dierdorf, the former St . Louis Cardinals offensive lineman who has been a broadcaster for more than 20 years, the past nine with CBS. "Both of those guys are wired-in pretty good through the media, and they've got extensive connections," Devaney said.

Dierdorf, 59, was a six-time Pro Bowl pick during his 13 seasons (1971-83) with the Big Red. During Dierdorf's stay, the Cardinals put together their three best years in 28 seasons in St. Louis. From 1974-76, they went 31-11 under coach Don Coryell and won two NFC Eastern Division championships.

Dierdorf was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996. He and Faulk both are in the "Ring of Fame" at the Edward Jones Dome.

As a St. Louis resident for nearly four decades and a former president of the Convention and Visitors Commission, Dierdorf "knows the city as well as anybody," Devaney said. "I might ask him about that: 'How do you think so-and-so will come across?' Or 'Do you think he'd fit in? Would it be a cultural fit?' That kind of stuff. I think Dan has a great feel for those kinds of things."

Phone messages left Tuesday for Dierdorf were not returned.

Devaney stressed that Faulk and Dierdorf are strictly consultants and won't be involved at any level of the decision-making.

"It's just me bouncing ideas off them and them giving me their opinions; that's all it is," Devaney said. "I don't care how we get the right guy or who's involved. As long as we get the right guy. That's all that drives me."