Browns Head Coach Search: Latest Rumors and Buzz After Rob Chudzinski's Firing

Updates from Thursday, Jan. 23

The Cleveland Browns announced the hiring of Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine:

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BREAKING NEWS: #Browns name Mike Pettine head coach. #WelcomePettine Press conference scheduled TODAY at 4:45PM EST #StayTuned

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 23, 2014"

May Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer initially reported that the Browns have reached a deal with  Pettine:

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#Browns have reached a deal with Pettine, source tells http://t.co/o11vJT6fp2

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 23, 2014"

Will Burge of Bleacher Report previously noted that the Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is currently the leader in the clubhouse to be the Browns' new head coach:

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Sources confirm #Browns have chosen Pettine as next HC. Say meeting today is not interview but contract neg. If deal is reached he is coach

— Will Burge (@WillBurge) January 23, 2014"

Burge also noted the team's recent contact with Josh McDaniels, noting that their recent conversations didn't amount to much. 

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"Just a friendly convo. (Haslam) really liked (McDaniels) & tried again. Nothing there." #Browns source just now

— Will Burge (@WillBurge) January 23, 2014"

Adam Schefter of ESPN later confirmed Burge's report regarding Pettine and the Browns job:

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Browns expected to offer their HC job to Bills DC Mike Pettine, per multiple league sources, via @mortreport and me. Need to work out deal.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 23, 2014"

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported that Pettine is working on assembling a staff:

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A source told cleveland.com that Pettine, 47, had already been working on assembling his coaching staff while at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Pettine is associated with top-notch assistants such as former Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who's now at LSU, and Packers running backs coach Alex Van Pelt. It's not yet known if he'll bring them in.

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