As soon as one door closes on Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski this offseason, another opens.

That was the case again Friday, when Chudzinski lost out on the St. Louis Rams' head-coaching vacancy but was asked to interview for the opening in Tampa Bay, according to an NFL source.

Chudzinski has interviewed the past two weeks with Jacksonville and St. Louis, which hired Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and former Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher, respectively.

Fisher's decision period prompted the Rams to interview Chudzinski and Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen as fallback candidates.

Tampa Bay is looking for a replacement for Raheem Morris, who was fired after the Buccaneers finished last in the NFC South. The Bucs appeared to be targeting someone with head-coaching experience after interviewing Marty Schottenheimer, Mike Sherman and Brad Childress.

But Tampa Bay's search seems to have shifted. In addition to Chudzinski, the Bucs also plan to talk with Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, according to reports.

ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer said Chudzinski might be better off working with quarterback Cam Newton, the presumptive offensive rookie of the year, another season or two.

"I think Carolina really needs to try to keep him," Dilfer said after speaking to the Hood Hargett Breakfast Club at Carmel Country Club. "If he gets a head-coaching job, that's a great opportunity. I think Chud's smart enough to realize what he has in Cam in this environment, and there may be a better job a year from now or two years from now."

Meeks let go: Panthers secondary coach Ron Meeks, one of only two holdovers from John Fox's staff, has been relieved of his duties, sources told the Observer on Friday.

Meeks, who has two decades of NFL coaching experience, was with the Panthers for three years, including two as Fox's defensive coordinator. Meeks and assistant defensive line coach Sam Mills III were the only assistants retained by Ron Rivera when he was hired last year.

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Victory for Rams: The St. Louis Rams prevailed in a high-stakescompetition with the Miami Dolphins by landing Jeff Fisher for their vacant head coaching job. The team said Friday it was finalizing a deal to hire the veteran coach who sat out the 2011 season after 17 years in Tennessee.

Fisher, 53, interviewed twice with the Rams, once in Denver and again in St. Louis when he toured facilities and met with quarterback Sam Bradford.

The Associated Press