While there have been no substantive negotiations, ESPN.com has learned the Detroit Lions have broached meaningful contract parameters to Steve Mariucci, and that the process figures to quicken in the next couple days, with the aim of completing a deal by early next week.

All of this is contingent, of course, on the continued interest of the former San Francisco 49ers head coach, who met with Lions officials Wednesday. The Lions fired Marty Mornhinweg, a former offensive coordinator on Mariucci's staff with the 49ers, on Monday, after just two seasons and a 5-27 record.

It appears, league sources and sources close to Mariucci said on Wednesday, that the Lions are talking about a four- or five-year contract worth between $3.5 million-$3.75 million annually. Hard negotiations, once commenced, might push the salary to the $4 million range.

Mariucci has one season remaining on his contract with the 49ers at a base salary of $2.25 million. But as reported by ESPN.com last week, the payout on that remaining season is stretched over 30 months.

Negotiations on what one source termed "the shape and structure" of a deal with the Lions could begin as early as Thursday. Another source said the club would like to have Mariucci in place by next Monday.

The sources pointed out, however, that Mariucci, while interested enough to huddle with the Lions and general manager Matt Millen, a longtime friend, could still change his mind about coaching in 2003.

"Let's face it, Steve is an emotional guy, and anything is possible," said one source. "For today, it looks like he's a 'go' on this thing. But tomorrow, he could decide he just wants to sit for a year and spent time with his family. He still has to be sold a little bit. But, to be honest, this is his (job) if he decides he wants the thing."

The Lions are prepared, in fact, to make a very hard sales pitch which will include several factors: a market-value salary, more control over personnel decisions than he could have ever had with the 49ers, hands-off ownership with the Ford family, a new stadium, a promising young quarterback in second-year pro Joey Harrington, and the second overall selection in the 2003 draft in April.

There is also the issue of geography, since Mariucci was born and raised in Iron Mountain, Mich., and would, in essence, be returning to his roots. In his six seasons with the 49ers, Mariucci compiled a 60-43 record and took the club to the playoffs on four occasions.

While it is clear Mariucci tops the Lions' wish list by a substantial margin, Detroit officials continue to speak with and pursue other candidates, and will interview a few of them. League guidelines compel the Lions to interview minority candidates and the franchise must also protect itself against the possibility that Mariucci decides he does not want the job.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported Tuesday that the Lions are having a difficult time attracting minority candidates, because most feel Mariucci is a lock to fill the vacancy. The team has kept the lines of communication open with former Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green, and he would be their primary target if Mariucci drops out of the running.

Steelers defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, an African-American, has cancelled his interview with the Lions, according to ESPN's John Clayton. The team informed Lewis tonight that things went very well with Mariucci, but that Lewis could still come interview if he wanted. Lewis declined.

Green declined to formally interview after Millen told him that he could not guarantee Mariucci wasn't the man the Lions prefer.

"Denny doesn't like to lose at anything," said a league source. "But if things don't work out (with Mariucci), he would probably look at the job. It's one of the (potential) openings in which he was most interested when the season ended and it looked like Mornhinweg was going to be fired."

As for other possible interviewees, the Lions are interested in speaking with New York Jets defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, who met Tuesday and part of Wednesday with 49ers general manager Terry Donahue. They have also indicated an interest in Jets senior assistant Jimmy Raye.

There has been no contact with Nick Saban and the LSU coach, who was once head coach at Michigan State, issued a statement Tuesday that he is not a candidate for the job. At this point, it appears, the Lions are not interested in former Jacksonville Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.