*Carroll headed out?

Pete Carroll is close to a deal to leave USC and become head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, according to the LAT. Nothing has been signed, but the Times says the contract would run five years at $7 million a year. Carroll has not returned calls, which could be a sign that something is up. All this comes on the same day that the Seahawks fired Jim Mora.

*ESPN cites a USC source as saying that Carroll joining the Seahawks was "going down."

A league source said Carroll is interested in coaching the Seahawks and is trying to persuade USC offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates to join him in Seattle -- as opposed to Bates pursuing the same position with the Chicago Bears. Said another source close to Carroll: "You're about to see a big headline that shakes up the major college football world," in reference to the Seahawks development.