Browns coaching search: Team requests permission to interview James Franklin per report

Nov 23, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach James Franklin during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Vanderbilt won 14 to 10. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns are requesting permission to interview Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin, according to a report.  The team had been linked to the Commodore head man before in this process, but this would be the first concrete link.  Franklin had worked with the Philadelphia Eagles when Joe Banner was there, so he is familiar with Franklin.  He has two years of experience in the NFL.

Today, the Commodores play the BBVA Compass Bowl against the University of Houston and there have been reports that Franklin will be interviewing for the vacancy at Penn State tomorrow.  It is unclear where Franklin ultimately wants to go, but at this point, the one thing that seems to be a good bet is his days in Nashville are numbered.  It just seems to be a matter of where Franklin wants to go and whether he wants to stay in college or make the move to the NFL.