49ers could stay east; YSU not contacted

Staff/wire reports

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh hinted that his team could stay on the east coast if it beats the Packers on Sunday, but it doesn’t look like Youngstown is in the discussion.

“I’ve given it some thought,” Harbaugh said of his travel plans in CSNBayArea.com.

If the 49ers and the Saints win, San Francisco would play the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. If the Eagles beat the Saints, the 49ers would play in Seattle.

Youngstown State hosted the 49ers for a week in both 2011 and 2012 but not in 2013. Penguins athletic director Ron Strollo told The Vindicator he has not been contacted by the 49ers but added, “Obviously, we would do everything in our power to make it work if they needed us.”

YSU does not begin spring classes until Jan. 13.

Browns EYE SEC coaches

The Cleveland Browns are “very interested” in interviewing Auburn University coach Gus Malzahn and Vanderbilt University coach James Franklin, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported, citing unnamed league sources, just a couple of hours before the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve.

La Canfora also reported that the Browns “are expected” to hire ex-Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz as their new defensive coordinator.

Meanwhile, the Browns began their series of scheduled head-coaching interviews with NFL assistants when they met with Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn Wednesday in Seattle, according to several national reports.

Quinn, 43, is in his 11th season as an NFL assistant. Using a 4-3 scheme, the Seahawks finished their first regular season with Quinn as a coordinator with the league’s No. 1-ranked defense (273.6 yards allowed per game). They also went 13-3, capturing the NFC West and home-field advantage for the playoffs.

The Browns also received permission to interview New England Patriots offensive coordinator and Canton native Josh McDaniels, 37, this week, a league source told the Akron Beacon Journal. The Arizona Cardinals gave them the green light to interview defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, 50, the Arizona Republic reported.

Bucs to hire Smith

TAMPA, Fla.

A person familiar with the negotiations says former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith has reached an agreement to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Former Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier is expected to be the Buccaneers’ defensive coordinator.

The 55-year-old Smith will replace Greg Schiano, fired Monday after going 4-12 this season and 11-21 in two years. Frazier also was fired Monday.

Smith was 81-63 in nine seasons with Chicago, leading the 2006 team to the Super Bowl — where the Bears lost Indianapolis. He was fired a year ago after the Bears finished 10-6 and missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons.

Smith was Tampa Bay’s linebackers coach under Tony Dungy from 1996-2000, then spent three seasons as the St. Louis Rams’ defensive coordinator on Mike Martz’s staff.

Chiefs’ Bowe cleared

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe was cleared to play in Saturday’s wild-card playoff game against Indianapolis after sustaining a concussion, though the status of linebacker Tamba Hali and right tackle Eric Fisher remains uncertain.

Fisher hurt his groin near the end of Tuesday’s practice, while Hali has been dealing with some swelling in his knee. Neither of them participated fully in Wednesday’s workout.