Browns' coaching search: Shurmur and Mularkey are first to interview

The Browns are in for a busy weekend of interviews with potential replacements for Eric Mangini, but the search will continue into next week and most likely beyond.

A scheduled interview with Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, originally planned for Thursday, is expected to occur today.

Mike Mularkey, the Falcons' offensive coordinator, is scheduled to interview Saturday. Mularkey canceled an interview today with the Broncos about their coaching vacancy.

There is urgency to interview Mularkey because the Falcons are on a bye this week. They will host a playoff game next week against an undetermined opponent, at which time Mularkey will be too busy to go job hunting.

The Browns are familiar with Mularkey. He was the Steelers' offensive coordinator from 2001-03 before being hired as the Bills' head coach.

The Steelers scored 352 points in 2001, 390 in 2002 and 300 in 2003 with Mularkey calling plays. He got the nickname "Inspector Gadget" for designing plays for versatile Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El and could probably come up with something unique for Josh Cribbs.

Mularkey resigned after two years in Buffalo when the Bills hired Marv Levy as general manager. He was 14-18. He was the Dolphins' offensive coordinator in 2006 and was demoted to tight ends coach in 2007.

Mularkey was hired as the Falcons' offensive coordinator in 2008, the same year quarterback Matt Ryan was a rookie. He is living proof how good a coach can be if he has a good quarterback. In three years, the Falcons scored 391, 363, and on their way to an NFC-best 13-3 in 2010, they scored 414 points.

Shurmur is the nephew of the late Fritz Shurmur, who was Browns president Mike Holmgren's defensive coordinator in Green Bay from 1994-98, when Holmgren was coaching the Packers. Pat Shurmur carved his niche as an offensive coach.

Pat Shurmur broke in with the Eagles as a tight ends coach. He coached the quarterbacks for seven years before being named Rams offensive coordinator in 2010.

Some impatient fans in St. Louis want to see Shurmur fired, but he helped the Rams improve from 1-15 in 2009 to 7-9. They scored 175 points in 2009 and 289 in 2010.

The interview process could pick up next week. Holmgren is expected to talk to former Panthers head coach Jon Fox and possibly former Oakland and Tampa Bay head coach John Gruden.

Holmgren also is expected to meet with Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg after the Eagles win the Super Bowl or are eliminated from the playoffs.

The Browns also plan on interviewing Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.

Roster additions

Seven players who finished the season on the practice squad were signed to reserve/future contracts by the Browns on Thursday — offensive lineman Brandon Braxton, Pat Murray and Phil Trautwein; fullback Tyler Clutts; running back Quinn Porter; tight end Tyson DeVree and defensive back DeAngelo Smith.

Tags: coaches