CLEVELAND (AP) -As the Cleveland Browns’ courtship with Scott Pioli continues, one of his closest football friends said it would be foolish for anyone to speculate about the New England executive’s plans.
Pioli, who has spent the past nine years helping build the Patriots into a powerhouse, met Wednesday with Browns owner Randy Lerner in New York about Cleveland’s vacancy at general manager. It is not known if Lerner, who also is conducting coaching interviews this week, offered Pioli the job.
Contradictory reports surfaced on Thursday regarding the 37-year-old Pioli’s interest in the Browns, who went 4-12 this season and have lost at least 10 games in five of the past six seasons. Pioli may also interview with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Pioli’s next move would be foolish.
“I think it’s presumptuous to think anybody knows what he’s doing right now,” Ferentz said Thursday after the Hawkeyes beat South Carolina 31-10 in the Outback Bowl.
Lerner was scheduled to meet Atlanta president Rich McKay on Thursday about the GM position. Falcons owner Arthur Blank granted Lerner permission earlier this week to speak with McKay, who was stripped of his general manager duties after last season but remained with the club to help new GM Thomas Dimitroff with the salary cap, contract negotiations and headed several business ventures including the pursuit of a new stadium.
McKay joined the Falcons in 2004 after he was with Tampa Bay. He is co-chair of the NFL’s competition committee.
A Browns spokesman did not respond to inquiries about whether Lerner’s meeting with McKay took place.
McKay did not return a message left on his cell phone.
On the Browns’ coaching front, Lerner was scheduled to interview New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagunolo on Thursday. The Giants, who have a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs were off, giving Spagnuolo a chance to visit with the Browns and possibly one of the other teams interested in him.
ee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on Friday.
For the third straight day, Ferentz addressed questions about his future. According to a Boston Herald report citing unidentified sources, if Pioli is hired by the Browns, Ferentz would be his top choice as coach.
“He and I haven’t talked in three weeks,” said Ferentz, who was the Browns’ offensive line coach from 1993-95. “We’ve both been doing our jobs. I’ve got a great job at Iowa. I’ve said it many, many times. The people are fantastic. I just feel very, very fortunate.”
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AP Sports Writer Fred Goodall in Tampa, Fla., contributed to this report.
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