After a busy week of interviewing, the Browns’ coaching search was quiet Monday, while possible candidate Jon Gruden did plenty of talking. Gruden, the favorite choice of many Browns fans wouldn’t discuss Cleveland’s job opening, but was an analyst on ESPN’s radio broadcast of the BCS championship Monday night.

By JAMES W. WADE III
Staff Reporter

After a busy week of interviewing, the Browns’ coaching search was quiet Monday, while possible candidate Jon Gruden did plenty of talking. Gruden, the favorite choice of many Browns fans wouldn’t discuss Cleveland’s job opening, but was an analyst on ESPN’s radio broadcast of the BCS championship Monday night.

He was an assistant under Browns president Mike Holmgren in Green Bay and won the Super Bowl as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He grew up in Sandusky rooting for the Browns.

Gruden, who’s spent the past two years as an analyst on “Monday Night Football,” has been unavailable for comment regarding the Browns job, but an ESPN spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday “he remains committed to ESPN and to ‘Monday Night Football.’”

The Browns will interview Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell today, the Plain Dealer reported. He would be the third candidate to interview, following Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey last week.

Fewell is African-American and would fulfill the NFL’s Rooney Rule, which requires each team with a vacancy to interview a minority. Fewell, 48, went 3-4 as Buffalo’s interim head coach in 2009, but didn’t get the permanent job. The Giants defense ranked seventh in 2010.

The search has been deliberate, with the Browns offering little information publicly, except to confirm an interview after it’s concluded. The process could gain momentum this week.

Gruden will be done with his Monday night duties, and Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg is available after Philadelphia was ousted from the playoffs Sunday by Green Bay. Shurmur has been labeled the “front-runner” to get the job by many national reporters, but may have to withstand a few more challengers.

Coach Andy Reid said Monday that the Browns hadn’t submitted the paperwork to talk to Mornhinweg, but they’re expected to do so. He played high school quarterback for Holmgren and was also an assistant under him in Green Bay.

The Browns assistant coaches remained under contract after Eric Mangini was fired Jan. 3. Holmgren gave them last week off and told them to report again Monday. Their futures will likely depend on the next coach.

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan interviewed for Carolina’s head job, but Ron Rivera is expected to be hired.