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Pioli being courted by Browns, Chiefs as general manager
AP File Photo
Scott Pioli may end up in either Kansas City or Cleveland.
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Published: January 6, 2009
Scott Pioli has become a hot commodity among a few teams hoping to rebuild.
Pioli, one of the architects behind New England's three Super Bowl victories, is talking to Kansas City about its vacant general manager's job. He has also been courted by Cleveland for its GM position.
The 43-year-old Pioli was scheduled to meet with Chiefs owner Clark Hunt yesterday, according to persons with knowledge of the meeting. They requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak for Pioli.
Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos yesterday interviewed Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay's defensive backs coach and newly appointed defensive coordinator, about the coaching job that opened when Mike Shanahan was fired.
Also, the New York Jets will interview Cardinals offensive line coach Russ Grimm on Thursday in Arizona about their coaching vacancy, a person familiar with the search said.
The Chiefs are looking for a replacement for Carl Peterson, who resigned after 20 years with Kansas City as CEO, president and general manager. The new GM will decide the future of Coach Herman Edwards, under whom the Chiefs finished 2-14 this season.
Kansas City is considered an attractive job because the Chiefs are one of the NFL's youngest teams and were close in many of their losses this season.
Pioli had been talking to the Browns about the general manager position vacated when Phil Savage was fired after the season. He seemed less enthusiastic about the job, however, after Cleveland owner Randy Lerner appeared interested in hiring former Jets coach Eric Mangini to fill the coaching job.
Mangini turned in the Patriots in the infamous "Spygate" scandal and his relationship cooled with Bill Belichick, and possibly with Pioli.
Meanwhile, Cleveland's search for a general manager has stalled. Lerner's interview with George Kokinis, Baltimore's director of pro personnel, won't take place until Sunday at the earliest because the Ravens' executive is involved in preparations for Saturday's AFC playoff game at Tennessee.
Kokinis, 41, emerged as a strong GM candidate in recent days. Kokinis may not have a resume to match Pioli's, but is highly regarded in Baltimore as GM Ozzie Newsome's top aide. Along with helping Newsome during free agency, Kokinis assists in contract negotiations for draft picks. Last year, he was part of an eight-man panel that selected John Harbaugh as Baltimore's coach.
In Denver, Morris became the third candidate to speak with Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, who stunned the NFL last week by firing Shanahan after 14 seasons.
The 32-year-old Morris earned a promotion from secondary coach to defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay following the departure last week of longtime assistant Monte Kiffin, who's joining his son, Lane, at the University of Tennessee.
On Tuesday, the Broncos will meet with two more offensive coordinators at their team headquarters: Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys and Rick Dennison, a longtime Shanahan deputy.
Meanwhile, Grimm, 49, is in his second season with the Cardinals, who play at Carolina in the NFC divisional playoffs Saturday. Both Jets owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum will make the trip to Arizona for the interview.
Grimm will join Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, and Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and assistant head coach/offensive line coach Bill Callahan as candidates who have interviewed to replace Mangini.
The Jets have received permission to speak with Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, but had not determined a day to meet.
The Ravens will play at Tennessee in the AFC divisional playoffs Saturday.
In San Diego, the Chargers announced that defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, a candidate for several head coaching vacancies after he helped lead Chicago to the Super Bowl after the 2006 season, had declined requests for interviews.
Rivera was fired by the Bears as he was interviewing in 2007, hired by the Chargers as linebackers coach and promoted to coordinator midway through this season.
In St. Louis, former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel is among perhaps five candidates the Rams could interview for their coaching vacancy this week.
General manager Billy Devaney received clearance over the weekend to speak with Ryan, Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, Dolphins secondary coach Todd Bowles and Cowboys wide receivers coach Ray Sherman.
Packers linebackers coach Winston Moss got the first interview on Saturday. Devaney hopes to have a new coach in place by Jan. 24, the date of the Senior Bowl.
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