Browns waiting; Mangini tops list

By MARLA RIDENOUR

The fired Jets coach impressed owner Randy Lerner.

A hectic week in the search for a new Browns coach and general manager has moved into waiting mode.

Owner Randy Lerner’s scheduled interview with Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was postponed Saturday because of a scheduling conflict, said a league source, who was unsure if the meeting had been rescheduled.

Schwartz interviewed for the Detroit Lions’ coaching opening on Saturday, according to the NFL Network’s Adam Schefter.

Unless it can be reset for today, Lerner will have to wait until the Titans are eliminated from the playoffs, or during the week before the Super Bowl, if the Titans get that far.

Last week, Lerner interviewed ex-New York Jets coach Eric Mangini; New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who might be the favorite for the Jets job; New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, a Canton native; and Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker for the vacant coaching position. For the top football position, Lerner talked to Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli and Browns player personnel director T.J. McCreight.

Lerner might wait to hear from Pioli, who reportedly plans to interview with the Kansas City Chiefs by Monday at the latest.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported Saturday that Mangini is emerging as Lerner’s favorite to succeed Romeo Crennel, based on a “compelling” interview Tuesday and Lerner’s fascination with Mangini, 37. Starting his pro career as a ball boy and public-relations intern with the Browns in 1994, Mangini, a protege of Bill Belichick, went 23-25 in three seasons as Jets coach.

Mortensen said if Mangini gets the job, the general manager position could go to George Kokinis, director of pro personnel for the Baltimore Ravens. Kokinis was an intern in the Browns’ operations department in 1991 who worked his way up to college scouting assistant under Belichick. Kokinis has held his present job with the Ravens for six years.

According to Mortensen’s sources, Pioli’s demands in his interview Wednesday were extreme, and Lerner hopes to compromise. Mortensen said Pioli’s top choices as coach are believed to be University of Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and McDaniels, 32, whose interview Friday was deemed impressive by a Browns source.

Schefter reported that McDaniels had a three-hour interview with the Browns and was told they have no problem hiring a coach before they hire a general manager. According to Schefter, McDaniels will interview this morning in New York with the same Denver Broncos contingent that talked to Spagnuolo on Saturday. McDaniels played quarterback at Canton McKinley and John Carroll University.

Browns linebacker Willie McGinest, who might be retiring after 15 seasons, served as a player correspondent on the NFL Network’s GameDay Morning show and commented on the team’s coaching search.

“Whatever coach comes into that system is going to have to crack the whip and get them organized. There’s a lot of talent on that team, you just have to put it all together,” McGinest said.