Cleveland Browns rumors: If McDaniels wants job, DePodesta not a road block

Around the rumor mill, Paul DePodesta won’t get in the way of the Haslams hiring Josh McDaniels as the Cleveland Browns next coach.

The Cleveland Browns are into the thick of their coaching search, losing out on the first candidate they interviewed, as Mike McCarthy took the job with Jerry Jones and the Cowboys.

The Browns interviewed Bills’ coordinator Brian Daboll Monday, but all eyes are on Friday, when Cleveland is expected to hire Patriots’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. It’s no secret now, Tom Brady‘s play caller is the choice of Cleveland’s ownership.

With the owners in love with McDaniels, the hire seems like a slam dunk. You can see how it plays out: He arrives Friday and the Browns don’t let him leave.

There’s just one obstacle in the way–or not in the way, depending on how you look at it, and that’s Paul DePodesta, the team’s chief strategy officer.

It’s been rumored McDaniels won’t accept a job with DePodesta holding his current role. Of note, DePodesta’s contract is up soon, so his presence may not get in the way of the Haslams of getting the coach they’ve long coveted, according to TheLandonDemand’s Tony Grossi (2:43).

"“The information i got over the weekend, was that, [DePodesta is] not going to impede Haslam from doing what he wants, from doing what he needs to do to get McDaniels.”"

Awkward. Depodesta is one of the leading voice in the coaching search, but Grossi noted that this could be one of his last acts an employee of the Browns.

"“If McDaniels tells Haslam, ‘Yeah, I’ll take the job if Paul is not involved,’  it will be done from what i’ve heard.”"

The dynamic in the interview room come Friday promises to be intriguing because it seems like the Browns have to sell themselves on McDaniels, and not the other way around. It’s especially true for McDaniels. He’s got other options, and the Browns have to know it.

If McDaniels doesn’t take the job, it wouldn’t be surprising to hear DePodesta will get a new contract and keep his role, working from his home in La Jolla, Calif., while commenting to Cleveland on game days.

if McDaniels doesn’t take gig, it seems like Kevin Stefanski would become the favorite, as he was DePodesta’s preferred candidate last year. There could be a hiccup there, though, because Cleveland.com reported Stefanski carries hard feelings over finishing second to Freddie Kitchens.

Happy coaching search, Cleveland! There’s always the Canadian Football League coach the Browns are reported to be talking to!