The Mike Pettine rumors are running wild. One minute he’s being interviewed by the Cleveland Browns just to round out the field, the next he’s the front runner for the job. Some reports have him already being named the new head coach of the Browns and then the Browns deny the story. Either way Mike Pettine’s stock has gone up in the NFL.

Pettine came to the Bills with Doug Marrone to get out from under the shadow of his mentor Rex Ryan of the Jets. Most thought Pettine would have to create a defense in Buffalo that at least made it to the playoffs before seriously being considered as head coaching material, but the Browns changed all that.

The Cleveland Browns are not considered a good place to work having fired previous Head Coach Rob Chudzinski after just one year. The names being considered for the job do not include well known previous head coaches or what would be considered the “A” list. Brown’s owner Jimmy Haslam has a checkered back ground and after canning Chudzinski after one season the likes of Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden are not ringing his phone.

Mike Pettine, like many coordinators in the NFL, is over looking the down sides of working for the Browns because being a Head Coach is the ultimate goal. Pettine knows that Cleveland is not without talent despite just four wins this past season. Pettine obviously feels the good out weighs the bad when it comes to working in Cleveland.

Should Pettine leave for Cleveland then Doug Marrone must replace a coach who improved the Bills dismal defense in one year. Marrone could promote a position coach, but no one jumps off the page. The loss of Pettine could set the Bills back in their development especially since Marrone himself is considered an offensive specialist. Plus, Marrone already released linebackers coach Chuck Driesbach and receivers coach Ike Hilliard and has yet to replace either one.

We should all know by the weekend, if not sooner, if Pettine gets the Cleveland job. Should Pettine get the nod then Doug Marrone has a third spot to fill on his coaching staff after just one season.

Filed under: Koshinski's Korner

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