Browns coaching search: Todd Bowles may interview according to Jason LaCanfora

Reports have suggested that Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles (picture his time with the Philadelphia Eagles) had turned down the Cleveland Browns among others for the opportunity to be their head coach.  Jason LaCanfora has suggested that might not be true and Bowles may end up interviewing for the job.

The overwhelming front runner is believed to be Josh McDaniels, the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots.  LaCanfora has said he would be shocked if it was not McDaniels who is hired for the job.  Nevertheless, the Browns have reached out to other candidates such as Bowles, Adam Gase, the offensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos and Dan Quinn, the defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks.

Both Quinn and Gase are in their first years as coordinators with their respective teams.  Gase has reportedly turned down the opportunity to interview with teams to focus on the team’s playoff run.  He took over Mike McCoy, who is now the head coach of the San Diego Chargers.  Quinn took over for Gus Bradley, now the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach.

Skeptics have already and will continue to suggest that this interview and many others will attempt to use Bowles or a candidate like Bowles to satisfy the NFL’s Rooney Rule, but that his chances of landing a job go little further.  Ultimately, it remains to be seen but the NFL has and will continue to push teams to interview as many minority candidates as possible.

Mike Tomlin is the example they will always point to as he was given the Pittsburgh Steelers job when it was assumed that either Ken Whisenhunt or Russ Grim would get the job.  They brought in Tomlin, then the defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, to satisfy the Rooney rule, were blown away and ultimately hired him.