Ryan to coach Ravens' defense

Rex Ryan would have preferred to be a head coach. Instead, he got the second-best thing: His old job, a new title and more responsibility.

Ryan was hired as the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens on Monday. The hire was made by new head coach John Harbaugh, who prevailed over Ryan in the team's quest to find a replacement for Brian Billick.

The 45-year-old Ryan and the rest of the coaching staff were fired with Billick after the season. Ryan was one of six people to be interviewed for the head-coaching vacancy in Baltimore, and he interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons and the Miami Dolphins.

No one offered him a job, so Ryan returned for a 10th season with the Ravens, the fourth as defensive coordinator.

"Man, it's great to be a Raven. That head-coaching stuff, I was just kidding about that," Ryan said with a grin. "Quite honestly though, when it was clear that I wasn't going to be a head coach, I wanted to stay here in Baltimore."

Ryan and Harbaugh have a positive rapport after working together in 1996 at the University of Cincinnati, where Harbaugh was the assistant head coach and Ryan was the defensive coordinator. Ryan said that when he interviewed with the Ravens for the head-coaching job, he told them that if he didn't get picked, the team should go with Harbaugh.

Harbaugh, in turn, decided to make Ryan part of his staff.

"I couldn't be more proud, more excited, more fired up, than to have Rex Ryan, my good friend, as defensive coordinator," Harbaugh said. "He's built (a defense) here that is one of the best in the National Football League, and that's a foundation for us to stand on."

Harbaugh has never been a head coach before, so he plans to have Ryan help him along in his first season.

"I feel like we're going to approach this thing shoulder to shoulder, side by side. I'm going to lean on Rex in a big way," he said. "To me, it's not a title, it's a responsibility."

The son of former NFL coach Buddy Ryan, the defensive coordinator from the Bears' 1985 Super Bowl championship team, Rex Ryan has established himself as one of the best defensive coaches in the game.

In 2005, his first season as defensive coordinator, Baltimore finished second in the AFC in total defense. In 2006, Baltimore had the league's top-ranked defense in yardage and points.

The hiring of Ryan, along with offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, gives Harbaugh two experienced assistants in his quest to improve on the team's 5-11 record in 2007.

"They are arguably the two best coordinators in the NFL," said Harbaugh, who also announced that Clarence Brooks will return as defensive line coach.

Moss must still stay away: A temporary restraining order against Randy Moss was extended until March 28 while the New England Patriots wide receiver was in Arizona on Monday preparing for the Super Bowl.

Moss' lawyer, Richard Sharpstein, said the decision came at a hearing in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., after he learned the player's longtime friend changed attorneys. She obtained the order Jan. 14.

Rachelle Washington's new attorney is Darrell Thompson, who replaces David McGill. A spokesman for Thompson confirmed the change. McGill did not return calls.

The temporary order requires Moss to stay at least 500 feet from Washington. No criminal charge has been brought. Washington, 35, alleged they had been in an "intimate relationship" since 1997.

Moss has denied the accusation by Washington that he committed "battery causing serious injury" to her at her Florida home Jan. 6. Washington did not attend Monday's session, Sharpstein said.

"He will stay completely away from her and has no desire to have contact with her," the lawyer told The Associated Press. "He's in Phoenix busy preparing to win the Super Bowl and on a day like today his mind is elsewhere."

Saints, Chargers in London:ΠThe San Diego Chargers and the New Orleans Saints expect to play each other in London this fall in the NFL's second regular-season game to be played outside of North America.

Both teams said the invitation should come from Commissioner Roger Goodell during his Super Bowl address on Friday.

The Saints would lose a home game.

"We are very much aware that we are being considered for this unique and exciting opportunity to represent the league internationally and look forward to the decision of the commissioner this Friday," Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said Monday.

In a story posted on the Chargers' Web site, team president Dean Spanos said he was "cautiously optimistic" the Chargers will be picked. So optimistic, it seems, that the Chargers anticipate the London game will be played Oct. 26, and that both teams would have byes the following week.

Spanos is a member of the NFL's International Committee. He said he and Goodell spoke about 2½ months ago and again recently.

Last season, the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins played in London in the NFL's first regular-season game outside of North America. The Giants won 13-10.