PETE CARROLL KNEW the cards he was dealt from the moment he signed on to be the Las Vegas Raiders coach after a year away from football.

In the AFC West, the star power among the head coaches on the sideline rivals what's seen on the field. Carroll, Sean Payton ( Denver Broncos ), Jim Harbaugh ( Los Angeles Chargers ) and Andy Reid ( Kansas City Chiefs ) have all won at the highest level. They have combined for 741 wins (52 in the postseason), 20 conference championship game appearances, nine Super Bowl appearances and five Super Bowl wins -- three by Reid.

Carroll and Harbaugh are the only ones to have coached in a Super Bowl and national title game since the BCS/College Football Playoff began in 1998.

"Isn't that something?" Carroll said. "If you're going to be any good, you

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