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Bill O'Brien isn't exactly denying rumors about his interest in Maryland's head coaching job

The Texans coach was linked to Maryland over the weekend. Asked twice about his coaching future since then, O'Brien hasn't been so definitive.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Ever since a CBS Sports report linked him to Maryland this Sunday, Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien has been under a bit of a microscope.

After the Texans beat Cincinnati on Monday Night Football, a reporter asked O'Brien about Maryland. He responded:

That's not a denial, Bill!

On Tuesday, the topic came up again – although we're not sure if Maryland was specifically mentioned this time.

That's not a denial, either. It's not really even close to being a denial.

It's worth adding here that there are serious reporters who think there's no shot:

I've been pretty skeptical about the O'Brien-to-Maryland notion for a while. At one point, I likened his chances of taking Maryland's open job to those of my 1-year-old dog. My rationale was that O'Brien, who came back to the NFL via Penn State and the New England Patriots, would be taking a de-facto demotion by joining the Terrapins. And it's not at all a guarantee he'll lose his job in Houston or leave it voluntarily.

I'll still be surprised if it happens. But where there's smoke, there's sometimes fire.

The Texans are 4-5 and don't have a quarterback, and O'Brien hasn't exactly tried to put out the flames.