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nychief · 01-03-2009, 08:43 PM

Pioli, Browns talking, but he may stay put
by Mary Kay Cabot
Saturday January 03, 2009, 9:27 PM

The Browns are continuing their dialogue with Patriots vice president Scott Pioli, but Pioli is still weighing his options, which include staying in New England, a source close to the negotiations told The Plain Dealer.

Pioli is also expected to go through with his interview with the Kansas City Chiefs sometime over the next couple of days. If Pioli takes himself out of the running, the Browns will focus their attention on fired Jets coach Eric Mangini, a source said.

Atlanta President Rich McKay can also get back in the mix now that the Falcons are out of the playoffs following their wildcard loss to the Cardinals on Saturday. McKay postponed his interview with the Browns on Thursday so he could focus on the game, and will thoroughly research the situation before deciding whether or not to formally interview with Browns owner Randy Lerner, a source said.

Two other head coaching candidates -- fired Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz -- are on the backburner for now. Shanahan was contacted by the Browns, but told them he will be on vacation with his family for the next two weeks and will not be interviewed during that time, a source said. If the Browns haven't hired a coach by then, they might still reach out to him. Their scheduled interview with Schwartz on Saturday was canceled because of a scheduling conflict. He also was scheduled to interview with the Lions Saturday. If the Browns don't interview him by today, they must wait until the Titans are eliminated from the playoffs, or until the week before the Super Bowl to talk to him.

As reported Friday in the Plain Dealer, the Browns were weighing the pros and cons of their top two candidates -- Pioli and Mangini -- knowing they'd probably have to make a choice between the two. Their research showed that landing the right coach was more imperative than finding the right general manager, a source said.

Pioli will require the authority to hire his own head coach, and reportedly favors either Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz or Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, whom the Browns were impressed with in his interview Friday. Lerner, who has said he would be "apprehensive" about hiring a college coach, would have to be sold on Ferentz. Likewise, it probably wouldn't be a deal-breaker for Pioli if the Browns didn't want to go the college route.

A source close to Pioli said he headed into the Browns interview with serious reservations about the job. Multiple league sources have pointed to the fact the Browns have squandered many draft picks over the past few years -- including the third, fifth and seventh in 2009. The team is headed for salary cap trouble after giving huge signing bonuses to free agents over the past several years, and the contracts of a number of players are up after 2009.

One league source noted that the roster is in bad shape after the reign of fired general manager Phil Savage, and that only one current defensive player -- Shaun Rogers -- would be good enough to start for the Ravens or Steelers. Another said that neither linebacker Beau Bell nor Martin Rucker, two players the Browns traded up to select in the 2008, will be able to cut it in the NFL.

Mangini, who's been the front-runner among coaching candidates since he interviewed Tuesday night, told the Browns that he had his own general manager in mind, a source said. That person is believed to his close friend George Kokinis, the Ravens' director of pro personnel. The Browns feel that Mangini and Kokinis could be similar to the Bill Belichick/Pioli tandem that has produced three Super Bowl victories in New England, the source said.

-- Plain Dealer reporter Tony Grossi contributed to this report

01-03-2009, 08:43 PM	#448
nychief MVP Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: NYC Casino cash: $5509466	Pioli, Browns talking, but he may stay put by Mary Kay Cabot Saturday January 03, 2009, 9:27 PM The Browns are continuing their dialogue with Patriots vice president Scott Pioli, but Pioli is still weighing his options, which include staying in New England, a source close to the negotiations told The Plain Dealer. Pioli is also expected to go through with his interview with the Kansas City Chiefs sometime over the next couple of days. If Pioli takes himself out of the running, the Browns will focus their attention on fired Jets coach Eric Mangini, a source said. Atlanta President Rich McKay can also get back in the mix now that the Falcons are out of the playoffs following their wildcard loss to the Cardinals on Saturday. McKay postponed his interview with the Browns on Thursday so he could focus on the game, and will thoroughly research the situation before deciding whether or not to formally interview with Browns owner Randy Lerner, a source said. Two other head coaching candidates -- fired Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz -- are on the backburner for now. Shanahan was contacted by the Browns, but told them he will be on vacation with his family for the next two weeks and will not be interviewed during that time, a source said. If the Browns haven't hired a coach by then, they might still reach out to him. Their scheduled interview with Schwartz on Saturday was canceled because of a scheduling conflict. He also was scheduled to interview with the Lions Saturday. If the Browns don't interview him by today, they must wait until the Titans are eliminated from the playoffs, or until the week before the Super Bowl to talk to him. As reported Friday in the Plain Dealer, the Browns were weighing the pros and cons of their top two candidates -- Pioli and Mangini -- knowing they'd probably have to make a choice between the two. Their research showed that landing the right coach was more imperative than finding the right general manager, a source said. Pioli will require the authority to hire his own head coach, and reportedly favors either Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz or Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, whom the Browns were impressed with in his interview Friday. Lerner, who has said he would be "apprehensive" about hiring a college coach, would have to be sold on Ferentz. Likewise, it probably wouldn't be a deal-breaker for Pioli if the Browns didn't want to go the college route. A source close to Pioli said he headed into the Browns interview with serious reservations about the job. Multiple league sources have pointed to the fact the Browns have squandered many draft picks over the past few years -- including the third, fifth and seventh in 2009. The team is headed for salary cap trouble after giving huge signing bonuses to free agents over the past several years, and the contracts of a number of players are up after 2009. One league source noted that the roster is in bad shape after the reign of fired general manager Phil Savage, and that only one current defensive player -- Shaun Rogers -- would be good enough to start for the Ravens or Steelers. Another said that neither linebacker Beau Bell nor Martin Rucker, two players the Browns traded up to select in the 2008, will be able to cut it in the NFL. Mangini, who's been the front-runner among coaching candidates since he interviewed Tuesday night, told the Browns that he had his own general manager in mind, a source said. That person is believed to his close friend George Kokinis, the Ravens' director of pro personnel. The Browns feel that Mangini and Kokinis could be similar to the Bill Belichick/Pioli tandem that has produced three Super Bowl victories in New England, the source said. -- Plain Dealer reporter Tony Grossi contributed to this report __________________ Good Time Charlie, Uncle Doobie and the Great Frisco Freakout.
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