One of the Browns’ presumed top head-coaching candidates is reportedly considering staying put in his current job.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase is “leaning toward” staying with Denver for the 2014 season.
Cabot also reported that the word in “league circles” is that Gase’s agent, Bob LaMonte, believes Gase could use another year as an offensive coordinator.
If indeed Gase is out of the mix for the Browns’ head-coaching job, there would be appear to be no clear-cut favorite for a position that’s been open for nearly three weeks.
The Browns fired head coach Rob Chudzinski on December 29 after just one season on the job.
In a letter to fans this week, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said the team was “prepared to wait as long as necessary” to hire the right coach. Haslam also indicated the club would wait to interview candidates on playoff teams if needed, too. Gase has declined to interview until Denver’s postseason run has ended.
As Haslam noted this week, the Browns’ job does have quite a bit going for it from a personnel standpoint. The Browns had five players named to the Pro Bowl and will have two first-round picks in May’s draft.
On paper, the Browns has some appeal. The question is, which coach takes the leap to turn Cleveland’s potential into production?