Sources: Pioli Interested In Brown's G.M. Gig

The Cleveland Plain dealer reports:

Scott Pioli, Patriots vice president of player personnel, is believed to be very interested in the Browns’ general manager job and is expected to interview for the position soon, multiple league sources told The Plain Dealer on Monday.The Browns have been granted permission by the Patriots to interview Pioli and could talk to him as soon as today. Pioli also has been contacted by either the Kansas City Chiefs or Detroit Lions and will interview for one of those jobs as well, a source said.

The interviews will be the first Pioli has accepted since he joined the Patriots in 2000. He was granted permission to interview with two other teams, but he declined both. In 2005, the Seattle Seahawks, despite not formally interviewing Pioli, offered him a five-year, $15 million deal, which he turned down. He also declined a request to be interviewed by the New York Giants in January 2007.

If Pioli takes the Browns job, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, a Canton native, could be near the top of his list of coaching candidates. Pioli hired McDaniels, 32, in 2001 to be a personnel and coaching assistant for the Patriots. The two remain close. Browns owner Randy Lerner confirmed Monday that McDaniels is on his short list. The Lions already have asked for permission to interview McDaniels, the Boston Herald reported Monday night.

The fact that Pioli has never accepted an interview request shows that Pioli’s interest must be genuine.  But it’s still just wait and see, and we’ll have updates if anything changes.