[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

Browns interview Bryan Cox
by Mary Kay Cabot
Sunday January 18, 2009, 10:47 PM

Browns coach Eric Mangini has interviewed Jets assistant defensive line coach Bryan Cox in Berea, a source close to the situation told The Plain Dealer.

Cox, a former 12-year linebacker who won a Super Bowl with the Patriots after the 2001 season, joined the Jets in 2006 as assistant defensive line coach after four years working for various media outlets.
Cox, known as one of the most intimidating linebackers in the game, spent one season in New England playing for current Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Mangini was Patriots defensive backs coach at the time.

Cox, who played for the Jets from 1998 to 2000, spent two of those seasons with Mangini, who was a Jets defensive assistant from 1997 to 1999.

The departure of Browns quarterbacks coach Rip Scherer to the Carolina Panthers increases the likelihood of coach Eric Mangini hiring former Browns quarterbacks coach Carl Smith for the same role he had with Cleveland from 2001 to 2003.

Smith, who was interviewed by Mangini on Thursday in Berea, was hired by USC on Jan. 6 to coach quarterbacks and serve as assistant head coach, but was given permission to interview for the Browns job.

I think losing Scherer hurts a little but if they can bring Cox as one of their assistant coaches he will bring some extremely needed intensity to the Browns. Hope they can bring him on board.