The reconstruction of the woeful Atlanta Falcons’ front office continued Saturday with the team moving closer to finalizing a deal to hire Tom Dimitroff as general manager. Barring a late breakdown in negotiations, Dimitroff is expected to be hired to succeed Rich McKay as general manager. McKay has been offered a two-year extension through 2010 to remain as team president.

The 40-year-old Dimitroff is New England’s director of college scouting. He has no experience as a general manager.

Dimitroff is expected to help the Falcons hire a head coach, though the team began interviewing candidates while also looking for a general manager.

The Falcons are looking to replace Bobby Petrino, who quit after only 13 games as the team’s coach. Petrino, hired from Louisville, left to take a job with Arkansas.

Falcons spokesman Reggie Roberts said no deal with Dimitroff has been signed.

“We’re talking,” Roberts said. “Do we have a signed contract, which indicates we have a general manager? We don’t have one.”

Roberts said there is no plan yet for a news conference to announce a hire.

Dimitroff will take over leadership of a team which finished 4-12 in a controversy filled 2007 season. Quarterback Michael Vick ended 2006 as the figurehead of the franchise but finished 2007 in federal prison, serving 23 months for his role in an interstate dogfighting conspiracy.

The Falcons tried three quarterbacks in 2007 — Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich and Chris Redman.

Dimitroff must decide if the Falcons look to the NFL draft for another quarterback or seek help through free agency or a trade.

Dimitroff worked as a scout for Cleveland, Detroit and Kansas City before joining the Patriots in 2002.

A Patriots spokesman said Saturday night the team had no comment.

The Falcons also interviewed Philadelphia general manager Tom Heckert, Jacksonville director of scouting Gene Smith, and Chris Mara, the New York Giants’ vice president of player evaluation who withdrew from consideration two days after interviewing with Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

Blank also interviewed Green Bay executives Reggie McKenzie and John Schneider.

The Falcons were rebuffed by Bill Parcells, who rejected the chance to take over football operations in Atlanta and instead took a similar job in Miami.

There were reports earlier this week that Blank has interest in Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll, but the hiring of a general manager likely would end any talks. Carroll has said he would only have interest if given the authority in personnel decisions normally reserved for a general manager.

Among the head coach candidates who already interviewed with the team: Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, Indianapolis assistant head coach Jim Caldwell, Dallas assistant head coach Tony Sparano, former Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, Jacksonville defensive coordinator Mike Smith and Tennessee defensive coordinator Jimi Schwartz.

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