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Looks like Gruden is staying at ESPN in 2011.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/01/cleveland_browns_moving_beyond.html

Cleveland Browns moving beyond Jon Gruden; Fewell interviewed, Shurmur remains likely front-runner

By: Tony Grossi

BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns' coaching search appears to be narrowing.

On the ninth day since Eric Mangini was fired, several developments supported the national perception that Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur indeed is the front-runner to replace him.

To wit:

• Jon Gruden announced to his ESPN radio audience in the wee hours of Tuesday morning that he will not be coaching in 2011 and will return to the network booth as a football analyst;

• Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell completed his interview in Cleveland for the head coach job;

• After the Fewell interview wrapped up, ESPN reported the Browns were one of several NFL teams interested in former Chicago, Miami and University of Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt for a role on their staff. Wannstedt, who was Jimmy Johnson's top defensive coach in Dallas and Miami, is considered a contender for several defensive coordinator openings; and

• Browns assistant coaches -- excluding receivers coach George McDonald -- are still under contract and in limbo. A scheduled meeting with President Mike Holmgren was postponed. McDonald left for a similar job with the University of Miami.

Gruden was considered a top candidate because of his long-time association with Holmgren, his devotion to the offensive system learned under Holmgren and his Ohio roots. But Holmgren never formally interviewed him for the job, perhaps partly due to the fact that he knew Gruden's intentions all along.

At the conclusion of ESPN's radio broadcast of the BCS Championship game early Tuesday morning, play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico asked Gruden if he would take a coaching job.

"No," Gruden responded. "I'll be back with you."

Earlier this week, Jim Gruden, Jon's father, told The Plain Dealer that he was not sure whether his son "wants to get back into the rat race." The elder Gruden explained that Jon has a son entering his senior year in high school who plays quarterback and linebacker and Jon immensely enjoys watching him play. He also helps coach the team.

Gruden still has one more season remaining on his contract as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that pays him handsomely through 2011.

Fewell was the third coaching candidate to receive an interview from the Browns, following Shurmur and Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey. It was conducted at the Browns' facility and concluded in mid-afternoon.

Fewell also was interviewed by Carolina and Denver, but Carolina filled its job with Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. Two New York newspapers speculated that Fewell is likely to stay in his present role with the Giants.

A source said the Browns' interview with Mularkey, conducted Saturday in Atlanta, was kind of rushed, as Mularkey was understandably preoccupied with preparations for the Falcons' NFL playoff game this weekend against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Browns' reported interest in Wannstedt comes as a surprise. The only known link to the Browns is that Wannstedt was Dolphins head coach from 2000-04 when Bryan Wiedemeier worked with the club in a variety of roles. Wiedemeier is now a Browns executive vice president and a member of Holmgren's inner circle participating in the coaching search.

It's possible the Browns could be looking to pair Shurmur with an experienced defensive coordinator. Shurmur has no experience as a head coach and has been Rams offensive coordinator the past two years after serving 10 seasons in Philadelphia as an offensive assistant coach.

Meantime, Mangini's top assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and special teams coordinator Brad Seely, remain employed by the club. Holmgren postponed a meeting scheduled for Monday to determine their future.

McDonald was released to join the Hurricanes as receivers coach. It's the second time in two years McDonald left the Browns. He accepted an offer last year with Rutgers when Mangini's status was undetermined, then returned when Holmgren announced Mangini would be back in 2010.

Well that's the most "news" we've had since Mangini was fired. Barring a dark horse at this point, it seems like Shurmur is the guy.

I love how the article points out that there's no connection to Wanstedt, as though the only way you can get a job here is if you have a connection to Holmgren or his agent. Could just be that they think Wanstedt could be a good d.c.

The list of candidates is getting crappier every day...Shurmur? Wannstedt? Really?

Everyone, just not Wannstedt...

Shurmur? While STL doesn't have much talent on Offense and still did some creative things, I wasn't impressed against SEA...it was scared play calling....

I understand there aren't no brainer HC candidates out there but those guys + MM? Really? I'd prefer a Nolan or Fox over those....

My dream would be a HC by committe situation though...get a good DC and OC in, get them each 25 roster spots....it's impossible though, I know

whith all those not so hot names out there, I'm starting to warm up on a Holmgren comeback...out of desperation

Can't argue with you on that one.

I've been a fairly consistent anti-Gruden guy for a while... but seeing the alternatives out there, maybe the best situation would be to go with Holmy for a season and then take another run at Gruden next season?

I'm not saying Gruden is a perfect solution, but we can (and seemingly will) do ALOT worse.

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whith all those not so hot names out there, I'm starting to warm up on a Holmgren comeback...out of desperation

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I said last week I wouldn't be totally shocked if after this whole thing Holmgren says he couldn't find the right guy and decides to take it himself.

Who would be your ideal candidates?

I hope Rob Ryan gets at least one more year here as DC. We seem to be just getting over the hump in terms of a defensive personnel overhaul, and I'm curious how he can handle a defense that has the guys he wants.

I seem to remember him putting together some competent defenses in Oakland with the crypt-keeper picking defenders for him.

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The list of candidates is getting crappier every day...Shurmur? Wannstedt? Really?

Everyone, just not Wannstedt...

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Wannstedt has been mentioned as a coordinator. Calm down.

I'd say Mangini is the best candidate...

I wouldn't mind Nolan at all.

Problem is, I don't there there's a chance we'll get a 3-4 guy.

I agree, and let me add how frustrating this is going to be if we don't get Gruden or Mularkey. I mean, why would we fire Mangini and replace him with somebody who has never been a hc before? Are we supposed to believe that this team stands a better chance of winning with Fewell or Shurmer as hc? This sucks.

The sky is not falling. Holmgren & co. aren't going to rush into anything like someone like, say, Randy Lerner would do . . .

If Mangini is the best candidate, then he'll be coaching the Raiders or the Broncos next season. Anybody think that's happening?

j/c

It looks as though H&H already had narrowed down their list of candidates, prior to ever making the change.

Why else would their search be so limited?

If this team goes in the crapper next year, with a much easier schedule, and a year of draft picks from the improved GM position ..... then yes, I could see renewed interest in Mangini as a head coach.

I think Mangini might take a year or 2 off, or he has mentioned some front office opportunities as possibilities.

Shoot. I've been trying to be patient and have faith in in Holmgren. Assumed that this process would drag on a bit w/ the playoffs and S.B. Then I read this. . . .

This feels too rushed. Unless there was an interview w/ some super candidate we weren't aware of, I'm almost hoping Holmgren is naming himself.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/11/report-browns-could-have-new-coach-by-thursday/

Report: Browns could have new coach by Thursday

Posted by Evan Silva on January 11, 2011, 9:52 PM EST

The Browns’ head coaching search appears to be nearing a conclusion.

Peter King of NBC and Sports Illustrated is “hearing” that the team could have a new head coach in place by Thursday, and Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has been the favorite for the position all along.

Browns club president Mike Holmgren has also interviewed Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey. Shurmur interviewed for the job last Friday.

Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was initially among those expected to be strongly considered by Holmgren, but now looks to be out of luck.

Shurmur called plays for a St. Louis offense in 2010 that ranked 25th in yards per game. Running back Steven Jackson averaged a career-low 3.76 yards per carry, and quarterback Sam Bradford ranked 30th in yards per pass attempt.

Yeah, we'll get another uninspiring coordinator turned Head Coach .... and we'll probably hire an experienced 4-3 coordinator while having the head coach act as his own offensive coordinator.

After all ..... that's a recipe for success.

How does it feel rushed?

Outside of John Fox, there is no one out there that I would even want to give a pity interview for.

If Shurmer is the guy, get him in here, let him meet with the players and start putting a staff together.

Say it ain't so, Mike...say it ain't so.

Well .. If he IS the new coach you can listen to an interview with him here from last month, as the media asks him about the offense out there. Seems to be well spoken anyway,


http://www.stlouisrams.com/media-center/...c5-d162345db1f1

I am not a fan of this. Then again, Mike Holmgren knows a lot more about football than I do.

I have to be honest here..I am not overbearing on a coach or anything like that. But I am not liking this so far. It seems that there is no plan or was no plan and I can not see how any of these coaches are better than Mangini for another year. Now the addition of Wanndstedt...Yuk. Mularkey is my favorite, but I am not so sure he is nothing more than a Coordinator..He should have known..Does he really believe one of these guys is the Coach that will take us to the Super Bowl..That's the goal right? If so, I am anxiously awaiting the next guy to get a street named after him.

Whoever it is I will support..that goes without saying. I like what Holmgren and Heckert and Mangini were doing..Now we just need that next guy that can Kick it up a notch.

I personally just don't see what he could possibly have said to convince Mike Holmgren that, while he couldn't get it done in the worst division in the NFL, he can get it done in arguably the best. I have a sad sinking feeling that what he said was "you and my uncle were buddies...give me a shot".

Or he could be the best man for the job.

You don't know.

Doesn't hurt to give him a chance.

I will certainly hope for the best.

After all, that's got us really far over the past 12 years .......

I'm sorry, but Shurmer is about the most uninspiring candidate I can think of. I would take an All Gruden coaching staff before this guy. (and anyone who knows me knows that I'm not a Gruden fan)

The onyl positive about this guy is that he did a nice job working with Bradford.

I think that this could have been the first big mistake by Holmgren. I'm afraid that Shurmer will be a downgrade in the head coaching department.

Hopefully I'm wrong ....but I have a sick feeling that we'll be looking at a 6-10 team 2 years from now ..... but we'll have much better talent at 6-10 ........

I think that I would prefer Fewell out of the candidates who have been reported as having interviewed. I think that he could make one heck of a head coach ... but it might be just a bit early for him. However, I don't think that Holmgren is looking for a defensive head coach from the Parcells tree ..... so we'll wind up with an offensive coach from the Holmgren/Reid tree who may not fit the big picture as well.

Oh well.

I don't think his only positives are working with Bradford.

He was a highly successful QB coach with the Eagles.

He was a good part as to why Bradford was a success in his first season with trash at WR.

Plus, play calling concerns do not worry me, unless he calls the offense. Great offensive coordinators and defensive coordinators fail all the time.

A lot of the stuff that makes a coach successful is stuff we don't get to see, like how he relates to the players and how he drives them.

I don't know if he is good at that or not. That being said, I'll trust Holmgren's judgement on this before I call this an uninspired hire.

Definitely need to see his coaching staff too. That will make or break a head coach.

The only thing I can say is that a couple years ago, Everybody was over Atlanta's hire of the Jaguars defensive coordinator...

Mike Smith.

He's currently the #1 seed in his conference...

Just saying...

j/c..

Don't like how if Holmgren was really interested in Mularkey, that he would allow it to be "rushed"...

but.. Like i said before.. I dont care who the head coach is, I care about the coordinators, in particular offense.

For those saying Holmgren is going to coach - did you watch his presser?

> Says doesn't have the energy to do it.
> Says wife doesn't want him to do it.
> Says wants to find a young guy to do it.

Maybe it was all slight of hand, but he seemed genuine at the presser and the last thing he left the impression of was being the Browns next coach.

Now if all that hung on Gruden taking the job, then maybe it all goes out the window but I would think Holmgren would have known or had an idea what Gruden was up to all along.