Browns coaching search slows down

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The Cleveland Browns are into their second week searching for a coach. They still don’t have much to choose from.

And Jon Gruden may not be an option.

So far, the Browns have interviewed two coaches — St. Louis offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and Atlanta offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey — and have a meeting scheduled with New York Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell for today as they look to replace Eric Mangini, fired by president Mike Holmgren after his second straight losing season.

Shurmur, 45, has been labeled a “front-runner” in some reports, but that can’t mean too much in what’s currently a two-man race.

The Browns have provided little information during a search Holmgren pledged would be “pretty wide.”

Fewell will visit the Browns at their headquarters in Berea. His interview will fulfill the NFL’s Rooney Rule requiring teams to interview at least one minority candidate. However, Fewell, who was Buffalo’s interim coach for seven games in 2009 is considered a strong candidate.

The 48-year-old also interviewed in Carolina and Denver. The Panthers’ job could soon be filled by San Diego defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, who is getting a second interview.

The Browns may still meet with Philadelphia offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who is believed to be on Holmgren’s short list. The Eagles lost Sunday’s NFC wild-card game to Green Bay, freeing Mornhinweg to interview, but coach Andy Reid said he has not received any paperwork from the Browns asking to meet with Mornhinweg, who has strong ties to Holmgren.

The lack of formal permission doesn’t mean the Browns don’t want to speak with Mornhinweg, who went 5-27 in two seasons coaching bad Detroit teams. His record aside, Mornhinweg runs the type of West Coast offense Holmgren wants to install in Cleveland.

As for Gruden, he remains a mystery man in Cleveland’s quest to hire its fifth coach since 1999.

Gruden grew up in Sandusky, rooting for the Browns and could be drawn back to the NFL by what was once a dream job. He has been linked to several job openings in the past, most recently with the Miami Hurricanes. Gruden, who was hired by Holmgren as an entry-level assistant in 1990, was in Arizona working ESPN’s radio broadcast of Monday night’s BCS championship game.

A network spokesman said Gruden “remains committed to ESPN and to Monday Night Football.”