Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn turned down Patriots' interview request

It's no surprise Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is in great demand for head coaching interviews during the team's bye week. All six teams that have openings put in requests to interview him, but according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero Glenn has turned down the New England Patriots' request to interview him.

The actual window for coaches whose teams have a bye this week to do head coaching interviews, by rule, is Wednesday through next Monday. But Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported earlier this week that the Lions shortened that window for Glenn and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to Thursday afternoon through Saturday. At this stage of the process, all interviews are done virtually.

So Glenn would've have to cram six interviews into roughly 48 hours. That feels untenable.

Glenn had his head coaching interview with the New York Jets on Thursday, but check out the rest of his interview schedule (via ESPN's Adam Schefter).

-Friday, a.m.: New Orleans Saints
-Friday, p.m.: Las Vegas Raiders
-Saturday, a.m.: Jacksonville Jaguars
-Saturday, p.m.: Chicago Bears

It's their right to shorten the window for their coaches to do head coaching interviews, but to some extent the Lions did Glenn no favors to give him what amounts to two days to do four or five interviews.

Why did Aaron Glenn turn down the Patriots' interview request?

The first possible reason Glenn turned down the Patriots' request to interview is the one previously mentioned: time. Six interviews in 48 hours is simply too much if he's going to put his best foot forward for each opportunity. Timing could also be a factor. The Patriots, despite literally being the first team to fire its head coach after its regular season finale, were the last of the six teams with an opening to put in a request to interview Glenn.

There's also a strong sentiment out there that former Tennessee Titans head coach (and former Patriots linebacker) Mike Vrabel is the heavy favorite for the Patriots job. The general tenor of their head coaching search so far feels likes a bit of box checking on the path to hiring Vrabel, though they are slated to interview Johnson on Friday.

Ultimately, Glenn can and should be as discerning with his head coaching interviews as Johnson is being with his. Somewhat to that end, there's this unsurprising update on Thursday from NFL reporter Josina Anderson.

"There’s one league source I talk to who entering this week said they feel the #Saints and #Jets are going to end up battling it out over #Lions DC Aaron Glenn."