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The Cleveland Browns could've gone with the flashy pick by drafting West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith. They could've played it safe by taking Alabama's Dee Milliner, the top-rated cornerback in the draft.

Instead, Cleveland made the right move in going with LSU pass rusher Barkevious Mingo with the No. 6 overall pick, sending a message to the rest of the league: The Browns are coming after your quarterback this year.

The first free-agent signing by chief executive officer Joe Banner was Paul Kruger, the sacks leader for the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. The first pick of this new era was Mingo, one of the most explosive and athletic defensive players in this draft.

The Browns didn't address their biggest need at cornerback. They didn't bring in a playmaker to spark a long-struggling offense. What the Browns did accomplish was to put some fear into Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger and Andy Dalton.

"We've talked about bringing in aggressive players to play in an aggressive scheme. He fits that very well," Banner said. "This was the outcome we were hoping for."

How much did the Browns want Mingo? Banner said he had a trade in place if Mingo didn't fall to them. When he was there, the Browns didn't think about trading down.

The Browns are doing more than switching to a 3-4 defense under new coordinator Ray Horton. They want to change the mentality. Last week, during the Browns' first minicamp, linebacker D'Qwell Jackson talked about giving the Ravens and Steelers "a little dose of their own medicine."

That wasn't the case last season, when Browns linebackers combined for 19.5 tackles for loss or sacks, the lowest mark in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Browns now have playmakers in Mingo and Kruger.

"We feel like building this the way we are, with character and aggressiveness and quickness, that this was the right guy at this time as we looked at our board," Banner said.

There will be some teeth-gnashing that the Browns didn't draft someone to improve upon the NFL's 24th-ranked scoring offense. But the Browns didn't need Smith, another strong-armed quarterback like Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell.

Some will worry that Buster Skrine is still penciled in as the starter at cornerback. As I wrote previously, Milliner doesn't make enough plays to be taken at No. 6.

Asked about passing over a cornerback, Banner said: "We're not going to force filling a need on a short-term basis. We're not going to fill all the needs on this team this year. It's just not going to happen."

Plus, teams can get by with average corners if they can put pressure on quarterbacks. Look at the Ravens, who won a Super Bowl with Cary Williams (a seventh-round pick in 2008) and Corey Graham (Pro Bowl special teams player) at cornerback.

"It all starts with the pass rush," coach Rob Chudzinski said.

The reason why I like the decision to pick Mingo goes beyond his name, which sounds more like a character in the "Harry Potter" books. (His name, by the way, was made up by his mother, who wanted something different. His brother is named Hughtavious. Yes, really.)

In his first interview with Cleveland reporters, Mingo didn't sound overwhelmed by the upcoming challenges of the NFL, which comes from his SEC pedigree. His sacks dipped to 4.5 in his final season in college, but his confidence did not.

On his vision for his pro career, Mingo said: "I think I can be as good as I want to be -- and I want to be great. I want to be one of those guys that gets their names in Canton, Ohio, and be a dominant player."

Even though Mingo didn't produce strong sack numbers, he still made quarterbacks move out the pocket and hurry throws. He recorded 28 total pressures (hurries and knockdowns), tied for the second-most in the SEC. Only Jarvis Jones (31), who was later drafted by the Steelers, had more.

Mingo is freakishly athletic. He has a tremendous upside. Sure, Mingo needs to bulk up if he wants to defend the run. But he brings something you can't teach: an explosive first step.

"I think I'm the best pass rusher," Mingo said. "Week 1 and the preseason, I'll get to show it."

Cleveland didn't need to draft a pass rusher. The Browns already had Kruger, Jabaal Sheard and Quentin Groves (and Browns officials said they had no immediate plans to trade Sheard).

The Browns, though, made the right pick because they went with the best player available. Reaching for a player like Smith or Milliner won't change double-digit losses year after year. This about building a team, and that begins with embracing an attacking style of play. And, adding some 'Bark' to the Dawg Pound seems appropriate.

"It really started with our coaching search and Chud's philosophy, which is part of the reason why he got the job frankly, about playing aggressive and attacking defense and making life uncomfortable for quarterbacks," Banner said. "It's about being on the attack even when the other team has the ball. I think you could see it in the moves that we made, whether it's in the free-agent moves or what you've seen so far in the draft. It fit the plan."

 
The Cleveland Browns addressed the pass rush, taking LSU's Barkevious Mingo with the No. 6 overall pick.

The Browns selected Mingo over Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, even though cornerback was a bigger need for Cleveland. It also dismisses the pre-draft speculation that the Browns would take West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith in the first round.

Mingo is expected to team with Paul Kruger and Jabaal Sheard to boost the Browns' ability to get to the quarterback.

Here's a short capsule:

BARKEVIOUS MINGO

School: LSU

Height/weight: 6-foot-4/241 pounds

The good: Explosive and durable. Mingo has an explosive first step and has a great motor. He has tremendous upside.

The bad: Considered unpolished as a football player. He lacks bulk to defend the run.

The bottom line: The Browns want to be more aggressive on defense with new coordinator Ray Horton. The additions of Mingo and Kruger will allow Cleveland to do that.

I will post more thoughts on this pick a little later.

Todd Bowles' relationship with new Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians makes him a logical candidate to replace Ray Horton as the team's defensive coordinator.

Bowles, who spent last season on Andy Reid's staff in Philadelphia, played for Arians at Temple and coached with him for the Cleveland Browns.

Arians' hiring in Arizona gives Bowles a fresh start following a rough season with the Eagles. Philadelphia's defense went from bad to worse after Bowles took over as coordinator following a Week 6 defeat to Detroit. There were multiple factors at work, including the growing inevitability of Reid's firing as the season progressed.

Cardinals fans could feel better about ditching Horton for Bowles if the Eagles' defense had suddenly come on strong following the switch. Instead, they will have to trust Arians' judgment in putting together a staff.

Bowles, like Arians, has experience as an interim head coach. The Miami Dolphins went 2-1 during the 2011 season after Bowles replaced Tony Sparano.

The chart compares the Eagles' and Cardinals' defensive statistics from 2012 based on which coordinator was in charge. Juan Castillo was the Eagles' coordinator through Week 6. Horton was in his second full season as the Cardinals' coordinator.

My first choice would have been to retain Dick Jauron as defensive coordinator. He deserved to stay after what he's done with the Browns defense the past two years.

Still, the Browns did quite well for themselves on Friday by hiring Ray Horton as their defensive coordinator, although this move doesn't make quite the splash as landing Norv Turner as offensive coordinator. The Browns decided to hire Horton after another target, John Pagano, was retained by the Chargers.

“We are truly excited that we were able to get someone of Ray’s caliber as our defensive coordinator,” Browns coach Rob Chudzinski said. “He possesses a great deal of experience as a player, position coach and coordinator in the NFL and has been part of some of the top defenses in the league throughout his career. He is an extremely talented coach and I know that he will work very well with the young nucleus of players we have on defense."

Here are three reasons why I like the addition of Horton:

• Cleveland gets a coordinator who knows how to make quarterbacks feel uncomfortable. In 2012, Horton's second year as the Arizona defensive coordinator, the Cardinals held quarterbacks to a 54.3 percent completion rate (third-best in the NFL) and picked off 22 passes (second-best in the league) while allowing 20 touchdowns. Matthew Stafford, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan and Russell Wilson combined for three touchdowns, 11 picks and a 23.4 QBR score against Arizona.

• The Browns get a coordinator who is familiar with the style of play in the AFC North. Horton spent seven seasons (2004-10) as the defensive backs/assistant defensive backs coach with the Steelers. During his time there, he helped with the development of Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.

• Cleveland gets a coach who is extremely motivated. Horton, who was considered a top head coaching candidate in Arizona, reportedly had a heated exchange with new Cardinals general manager Steve Keim when he found out that Bruce Arians got the job. Horton felt like he deserved that job after paying his dues as an assistant. Horton was interviewed for the Browns head coaching opening before they hired Chudzinski.

One of the knocks on Horton is his attitude. According to NFC West blogger Mike Sando, Horton is a bit of a loose cannon, the way Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Todd Haley has sometimes been. Some of the things Horton says publicly suggest he thinks he's smarter than everyone else.

The bigger question is whether Horton's scheme is a good fit for the Browns. Horton ran a 3-4 defense in Arizona and likely will want to run that in Cleveland.

The Arizona Cardinals might one day look back on Jan. 18, 2013, as the day new coach Bruce Arians brought championship football to the desert.

We cannot know whether that will happen.

What we do know at this early stage is that the Cardinals' coaching search came at a steep price. Ray Horton's firing as defensive coordinator, announced by Arians on Friday, removes from the equation the No. 1 reason for optimism coming out of an otherwise forgettable 5-11 season.

The publicly visible part of the process has gone like this:

• Fire Whisenhunt and most of the offensive staff.
• Announce plans to interview former Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid and current Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton.
• Watch Reid become the Kansas City Chiefs' head coach without visiting Arizona.
• Interview Horton and several offensive coordinators from other teams.
• Watch the other seven teams with head-coaching vacancies make their hires.
• Hire Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.
• Announce Horton's firing in the best interests of team unity.

Six years ago, Whisenhunt inherited defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast even though the 2006 Cardinals' defense had ranked 29th in both yards and points allowed. Horton ideally would have remained in Arizona to build upon a promising first two seasons with the team. Circumstances were different this time, however, and keeping Horton wasn't realistic in the end.

The Cardinals wanted change and they've gotten it.

Todd Bowles will be the Cardinals' defensive coordinator. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' secondary coach last season, taking over as defensive coordinator when the team fired Juan Castillo in October.

Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton should be frustrated after the team passed over him when hiring Bruce Arians as its next head coach.

Horton orchestrated tremendous defensive improvement over a two-year run as coordinator. The team interviewed him as a potential replacement for Ken Whisenhunt. Interviewing Horton wound up doing more to satisfy the Rooney Rule than it has done to advance Horton's career. Horton reportedly wants out, and could get his wish.

The Cardinals were known to have interviewed four other candidates, all offensive coordinators: Bruce Arians, Todd Haley, Darrell Bevell and Jay Gruden. They tried to interview another offensive-minded coach in Andy Reid.

Horton arguably deserved the job more than those other candidates.

However, the Cardinals had very good reasons for seeking an offensive-minded head coach. Improving the offense had to be the No. 1 priority this offseason.

Promoting Horton to head coach would have prevented the Cardinals from pursuing Arians, Haley, Bevell, Gruden or any offensive coordinator for what would have been a lateral move. Promoting Horton would have left the Cardinals worse off, not better off, on the offensive side of the ball. They might have become worse on the defensive side, too, given that Horton would have to focus much of his attention away from the one area where he was most valuable: coaching the defense.

The Cardinals did what they had to do.

Criticisms of Horton as a head coaching candidate have more to do with style than substance. He's a bit of a loose cannon the way Haley has sometimes been one. Some of the things Horton says publicly suggest he thinks he's smarter than everyone else. That was the impression Horton left when suggesting the Cardinals had outfoxed New England during a 20-18 victory in September.

Horton can come off as flippant. That approach isn't for everyone. Neither does it mean he would fare poorly as a head coach, or that someone shouldn't seriously consider him.

Note: Reports suggest Horton is frustrated and wants out, and that Arians might replace him with Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. In that case, the Cardinals would have traded Whisenhunt-Horton for Arians-Bowles.

Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians will succeed Ken Whisenhunt as the Arizona Cardinals' head coach.

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is not part of the deal, unfortunately. Finding a quarterback is the Cardinals' next top priority, one that will determine whether Arians ultimately fares better than Whisenhunt. Arizona holds the seventh pick in the 2013 NFL draft, and has under contract veteran quarterbacks Kevin Kolb, John Skelton and Ryan Lindley.

Arians comes to the Cardinals as the offensive-minded assistant they targeted almost without exception. Although he worked for the Colts most recently, Arians offers the same Pittsburgh Steelers pedigree Whisenhunt brought to the job back in 2007. He will run an offense with some similarities to the one Whisenhunt, Arians and the Pittsburgh staff ran when they worked together from 2004 through 2006, winning a Super Bowl. But Arians told reporters in Arizona that he has changed much of the terminology in ways allowing quarterbacks to generate a clearer picture of the offense in their minds.

Arians has succeeded Whisenhunt before, in Pittsburgh. He moved from receivers coach to offensive coordinator when Whisenhunt vacated the coordinator's position to accept the Cardinals' head-coaching job. Whisenhunt turned around the Cardinals quickly, posted a 4-2 postseason record and nearly defeated the Steelers in the Super Bowl following the 2008 season. The offense has deteriorated considerably since Kurt Warner's retirement, and Whisenhunt lost his job when a big bet on Kolb failed to produce desired results.

Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton, Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden also were candidates to succeed Whisenhunt. The mostly outstanding results Horton has gotten from the defense made him deserving of strong consideration. However, promoting Horton would have severely reduced the team's options for hiring an offensive staff. NFL rules allow teams to pursue assistants from other teams for head-coaching jobs, but not for other coaching jobs.

Arians' hiring has ramifications throughout the NFC West and beyond. It means every head-coaching position in the league is filled. The Seahawks will be keeping Bevell, who signed a new contract with the team, according to ESPN's John Clayton. The San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams also will not lose one of their coordinators or other assistants to a head-coaching job.

Arians and Horton worked together in Pittsburgh. The Cardinals will be best served if the two former co-workers make this relationship work, even though Horton could reasonably have some hard feelings after not getting the job. Horton's status will be an issue as long as he continues operating under his current contract, which runs through the 2013 season.

In the end, Arizona did not secure one of the big-name candidates such as Andy Reid or Chip Kelly. That is not necessarily a bad thing. Arians might wind up being a better fit than any of those other coaches. At first glance, however, it's fair to question whether the man who worked under Whisenhunt in Pittsburgh represents a clear upgrade from Whisenhunt. The Colts did go 9-3 with Arians serving as their head coach while Chuck Pagano underwent cancer treatments.

A case can be made that Whisenhunt's time in Arizona had run its course, anyway, and that a change was needed.

No coach will win in Arizona without improving the quarterback situation. Whisenhunt had his chance to improve that critical area, but he failed. The quarterbacks he acquired and developed too frequently got worse, not better. Now, it's Arians' turn.

The Chicago Bears' hiring of Marc Trestman as head coach leaves Arizona, Philadelphia and Jacksonville as the final three teams with vacancies heading toward the 2013 season.

Trestman was not a known candidate for any other job. His rather curious hiring should not affect the Cardinals in any way.

A quick look at the known candidates for the Cardinals, Eagles and Jaguars:

• Arizona: Offensive coordinators Darell Bevell (Seattle), Jay Gruden (Cincinnati) and Todd Haley (Pittsburgh) have reportedly interviewed or will interview. Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton has already interviewed and remains on staff. Andy Reid and Mike McCoy were candidates before taking jobs elsewhere.
• Eagles: The Eagles have interviewed and/or pursued Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley (Seattle), former Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt, Gruden, McCoy, Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, Falcons special-teams coordinator Mike Armstrong, Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, former Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly, Oregon coach Chip Kelly, Penn State coach Bill O'Brien, former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith, and then-Syracuse coach Doug Marrone. Did I miss anyone? Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer joked that the Eagles have interviewed "every living male with a visor" to this point.
• Jaguars: Bradley headed from his Eagles interview to meet with the Jaguars on Wednesday. Bevell and St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer also interviewed. Schottenheimer was a finalist for the job one year ago, but the Jaguars hired Mike Mularkey. Jaguars defensive coordinator Mel Tucker interviewed. San Francisco offensive coordinator Greg Roman would be a logical candidate for the job given his success with the 49ers and close ties to new Jaguars general manager David Caldwell, Roman's former college teammate and roommate. The Jaguars were not yet conducting their coaching search when Roman was available for interviews during the window provided before divisional-round games. He remains off-limits during Championship Game week. Armstrong, the Falcons' special-teams coach, has also been mentioned as a candidate. AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky sizes up the field.

The chart is an expanded version of previous ones I've produced, designed to show which openings might be most appealing from candidates' perspective. I would order them Philadelphia, Arizona and Jacksonville based on a range of factors, including quarterbacks and ownership.

Mike McCoy's expected hiring by the San Diego Chargers leaves the Arizona Cardinals ... where?

There is no way to know the answer to that question.

First, we do not know for sure what the Cardinals' plans are for naming a head coach. Second, we do not know whether McCoy will become a better head coach than the person Arizona winds up hiring in the end.

We do know Cardinals president Michael Bidwill announced intentions to interview Andy Reid, only to have Reid accept the Kansas City Chiefs' offer without visiting Arizona. We know reports suggested the Cardinals sought a second interview with McCoy, only to have McCoy cancel that interview after accepting the Chargers' offer.

So, from outside appearances, the Cardinals appear to be struggling in their search for Ken Whisenhunt's replacement. They do have an insurance policy in defensive coordinator Ray Horton. Missing out on Reid and McCoy would hurt more if Horton also appeared likely to land a head coaching job elsewhere. Horton appears more likely to stay, however.

In my view, firing Whisenhunt made sense if the Cardinals were in position to move decisively for a superior candidate. They have not done that to this point. Still, it's tough to render a verdict on the process before the Cardinals have made a hire. And even when they do make a hire, we won't immediately know whether they've made a good one.

Before hiring Whisenhunt in 2007, the Cardinals reportedly conducted second interviews with a group featuring Mike Sherman, Norm Chow, Cam Cameron and Ron Rivera. Whisenhunt was also a candidate to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers at that time.

Horton, Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley and Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden have interviewed with the Cardinals this offseason. They appear to be the leading candidates.

No coach is going to succeed in Arizona without upgrading the quarterback situation. Whisenhunt proved he could win with a top quarterback. He lost his job because the quarterbacks he helped acquire and develop following Kurt Warner's retirement either could not stay healthy (Kevin Kolb) or struggled (John Skelton, Ryan Lindley) or both (Kolb, to varying degrees).

The other teams seeking head coaches generally have superior quarterback situations. That makes those teams more attractive to coaching candidates. If the Cardinals wind up settling for a lesser candidate, then they would have been better off keeping Whisenhunt, shuffling the offensive staff and making another run at finding the team's next quarterback.

A few NFC West assistant coaches and personnel evaluators remain in play for jobs elsewhere:

A look at where things stand:

• Greg Roman, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator: Roman's name has surfaced in connection with head coaching jobs in San Diego and Jacksonville. He has ties to the general managers each of those teams hired recently. Roman and the Chargers' new general manager, Tom Telesco, were college teammates and even roommates. Roman and new Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell also played together in college and worked together with the Carolina Panthers. The Jaguars are expected to have interest in Roman after firing Mike Mularkey, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Losing Roman could put more pressure on 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh to oversee the offense. Harbaugh's background is on offense, so the 49ers appear to have some protection on that side of the ball. Niners players have referred to Roman as an offensive genius, however, so it's clear Roman would be missed.
• Tom Gamble, 49ers director of player personnel: Gamble is reportedly a leading candidate to replace Mike Tannenbaum as the New York Jets' general manager.
• Gus Bradley, Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator: Philadelphia received permission to speak with Bradley about its head coaching vacancy. Rules allowed for contact this week, but the Seahawks are focused on a divisional-round playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons. The Eagles have quite a few known candidates. They appear to be in no rush. No clear favorite has emerged. Bradley is in the mix, at least. Head coach Pete Carroll's background is on defense. That would appear to provide some insurance for the Seahawks if Bradley took a job elsewhere.
• Darrell Bevell, Seahawks offensive coordinator: The Chicago Bears received permission to speak with Bevell, an NFC North alum via the Minnesota Vikings. Line coach Tom Cable coordinates the running game for Seattle. The Seahawks would look to keep their offensive system if Bevell departed. Cable's presence provides some insurance.
• Brian Schottenheimer, St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator: Schottenheimer quickly emerged as a candidate in Jacksonville once the Jaguars fired Mularkey. Schottenheimer interviewed for this job one year ago before the team chose Mularkey. If Schottenheimer left, the Rams would presumably hire a replacement from the outside and try to keep a similar offensive system in place. Quarterback Sam Bradford has changed coordinators every season. The Rams would want a smooth transition if Schottenheimer did take a job elsewhere. Still, adjusting to yet another coordinator would likely come at a price for Bradford.
• Ray Horton, Cardinals defensive coordinator: The NFC West assistant considered most likely to generate interest this offseason appears to have little going at this time. He remains a candidate to succeed Ken Whisenhunt in Arizona, it appears. But there's been little buzz on the Horton front lately.

Well, it turns out Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wasn't just blowing smoke when he said on the radio last week that things were about to get uncomfortable around Valley Ranch. If you're a Cowboys coach right now, you can't be feeling comfortable at all. Running backs coach Skip Peete was let go Monday, and ESPNDallas.com reports that defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has been fired as well.

Ryan seems like an odd move in some ways. I mean, yes, the Cowboys finished 19th in the league in defense in terms of yards allowed and 24th in terms of points allowed, but they did lose five starters and their nickel cornerback to injury along the way, which is the kind of thing that can generally get a coordinator a break. Hard to really judge Ryan's performance considering he didn't really have his team.

And it remains to be seen what else happens, as there's some chatter in Dallas about the possibility of Jones taking play-calling responsibilities away from head coach Jason Garrett and hiring an offensive coordinator. But assuming Ryan's dismissal turns out to be the Cowboys' biggest offseason change, it could actually signify continued support for Garrett. The reason I say that is because it's a change that doesn't really strike at Garrett's authority over the offense. It allows Jones to make a big, heads-will-roll splash without undermining the coach in whom he's placed and professed so much long-term faith. Heck, it could even allow Garrett to have more input into the hiring of the new defensive coordinator than he had in the hiring of Ryan two years ago (when, it is believed, he preferred Ray Horton).

It could also allow the Cowboys, if they so choose, to switch to a 4-3 defense, which some have suggested might suit their personnel better. Whether they do that or not could depend on which defensive coordinator they hire to replace Ryan. If they hire Lovie Smith, for instance, expect that they're making that switch. If they hire Horton or Mike Pettine or someone like that, that would signify a desire to stay in the 3-4.

So if this is part of a larger slate of firings still to come, all bets are off and everybody's really uncomfortable in Valley Ranch. But if Ryan's firing is the big-splash move to which Jones was alluding when he talked "change" last week, there's a chance it could portend more power for Garrett instead of less. I admit I don't know which way it will go, but as we watch the Cowboys' offseason continue to unfold, it's worth looking for signs of whether Jones is wavering on Garrett or doubling up on his determination to stand behind him and try to make him successful.

A few thoughts on each of the known candidates for the Arizona Cardinals head coaching vacancy:

• Andy Reid: Hiring Reid would have been the safest move for several reasons. Reid has 130 regular-season victories and a Super Bowl appearance, so he's proven. Reid could have assembled an experienced staff quickly. Arizona would have won the hiring-day news conference had Reid taken the job. Finding the next up-and-coming coach is tougher than identifying the established ones. Reid was the safest choice, but was he the best one? He favors a relatively traditional West Coast offense. Most of the league appears to be heading in another direction.

• Ray Horton: The Cardinals' defensive coordinator presumably remains in consideration while the team interviews other candidates. On-field results suggest he's done a very good job coordinating the Cardinals' defense. Some have hinted that Horton might be able to land Norv Turner as offensive coordinator, but it's unclear whether that is true. Horton has said he would hire someone to run the defense if Arizona promoted him to head coach. That would free up Horton to focus on being a head coach, but a trade-off could be weakening the one area where Horton could make the Cardinals strongest, on defense.
• Mike McCoy: The Denver Broncos offensive coordinator will presumably remain occupied by the playoffs for as long as his current team remains in contention. He gets credit for successfully adapting the Broncos offense to Tim Tebow last season and Peyton Manning this season. McCoy previously spent most of his career with Carolina. The Panthers ranked near or below the NFL averages in third-down conversion rate, touchdowns, points per drive and NFL passer rating from 2004 through 2008, the years when McCoy coached quarterbacks or coordinated the passing game. McCoy is known for getting along well with others. He had a positive working relationship with Jake Delhomme and was instrumental behind the scenes in relating to mercurial wide receiver Steve Smith.
• Jay Gruden: Gruden just finished his second season as the Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator. He played quarterback in college and should have a good feel for the position, a plus for the Cardinals as they try to improve behind center. Gruden's work with 2011 draft choice Andy Dalton works in Gruden's favor. Gruden, 45, had a winning record as a head coach in the Arena League. Dalton's postseason struggles (zero touchdowns, four interceptions) and overall ineffectiveness on third down may or may not reflect on Gruden. Dalton ranked 36th out of 36 qualifying quarterbacks in Total QBR on third down this season (10.5). Even Mark Sanchez was better (16.4). Arizona's Ryan Lindley (4.1) and John Skelton (1.4) were worse than Dalton, but neither played enough to qualify in the rankings. They were 38th and 39th, respectively, in third-down QBR among players with at least 50 pass attempts. Kevin Kolb was 33rd at 19.2.
• Todd Haley: Haley wants the job, but he has been reluctant to embrace the process without first knowing how serious the Cardinals are about hiring him. The Cardinals have turned over much of their offensive roster since Haley left his job as the team's offensive coordinator following the 2008 season. Sure, Haley knows Larry Fitzgerald, but that isn't reason enough to hire a head coach. The Cardinals would have to feel Haley could help them identify talented quarterbacks and then develop them quickly. Haley was Kansas City's head coach when Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel tossed 27 touchdown passes with seven interceptions in 2010. The team finished 10-6. Cassel, despite a 93.0 NFL passer rating that year, graded out as merely average that season in Total QBR (52.2), however, and he no longer projects as a starter. That might actually reflect positively on Haley. Perhaps he was able to get a winning season from Cassel while other coaches could not. But as some have mentioned, Charlie Weis could have played a more prominent role. He was the Chiefs' offensive coordinator in 2010.

More to come as long as the wireless remains functional on my 5-hour, 41-minute flight from Washington, D.C., to Seattle.

The Arizona Cardinals' plans to speak with Andy Reid about their head coaching vacancy appear in jeopardy with Reid close to accepting the Kansas City Chiefs' offer.

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley, mentioned early in the week by ESPN's John Clayton, is now in the mix for Arizona.

Arizona has already interviewed its own defensive coordinator, Ray Horton.

The Cardinals are also without a general manager.

Haley would come to Arizona already familiar with the organization from his tenure as the team's offensive coordinator under former coach Ken Whisenhunt. He would presumably fit if the team promoted vice president of player personnel Steve Keim to the GM role. Haley and Keim worked together in Arizona previously.

Haley posted a 19-26 record as head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. That included a 10-6 season in 2010, when the Cardinals were 5-11.

On Monday, Cardinals president Michael Bidwill mentioned Reid as a candidate to replace Whisenhunt. On Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter cited a source expressing "95 percent" confidence in Reid becoming the Cardinals' next head coach. Later Tuesday, Schefter cited other sources expressing skepticism that Reid-to-Arizona was that likely.

News of Arizona's interest in Reid surely worked in Reid's favor in negotiations with the Chiefs. That doesn't mean there was nothing to the Reid-to-Arizona stories. Bidwill announced the team's interest and plans to interview Reid, an indication the team had participated in discussions with the former Philadelphia Eagles coach or his representatives.

Hiring Reid would generate much more buzz in Arizona than hiring Haley. If Reid lands in Kansas City, the Cardinals will be perceived to have settled for whichever coach they wind up hiring. That is OK as long as they hire a good coach.

Horton has said he would hire a defensive coordinator to run the Cardinals' defense if Arizona promoted him to head coach. That would allow Horton to focus all his efforts on being a head coach. It might also weaken the defensive coaching.

Horton remains under contract to the Cardinals. If he does not land a head coaching job elsewhere, Arizona could keep him as coordinator while naming Haley or someone else as head coach. That could create an uncomfortable dynamic, particularly if the head coach has no history with Horton. Haley and Horton have not coached together previously.

Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy is another potential candidate to replace Whisenhunt. The Cardinals have lined up an interview with him for the weekend. McCoy has spent much of his coaching career with the Carolina Panthers.

The Buffalo Bills began their coaching search this week. Several early names have already surfaced, some of which were outlined Wednesday in the AFC East blog.

Although more names will surely come up, here are some early thoughts on Buffalo's first round of candidates.

Ken Whisenhunt, former Arizona Cardinals head coach

The good: Whisenhunt comes with good head-coaching experience and Super Bowl experience with the Arizona Cardinals. Whisenhunt also worked with Bills assistant general manager Doug Whaley in Pittsburgh; that familiarity helps. Whisenhunt is a good offensive mind when he has a quality quarterback, such as Kurt Warner or Ben Roethlisberger.

The bad: Whisenhunt is another retread -- a head coach who was fired for failing somewhere else and then given a second chance by Buffalo. That trend hasn't worked well for the Bills, who hired the wrong retreads in Chan Gailey and Dick Jauron. Whisenhunt's career record is 45-51 and he led Arizona to the playoffs in only two of his six seasons there.

Ray Horton, Cardinals defensive coordinator

The good: Horton is an up-and-coming assistant who could infuse energy into the Bills. Like Whisenhunt, Horton also has Pittsburgh ties to Whaley -- both came up in the successful Steelers' organization. Horton could be the next assistant ready to become a quality head coach. He is getting plenty of interest from several teams.

The bad: Horton is somewhat of an unknown with zero head-coaching experience. Is he the next Mike Tomlin or the next Jauron? You never know for sure. Horton has only been defensive coordinator for two seasons. Horton is very much a defensive coach and would require a strong offensive coordinator to call the shots on the other side of the football.

Lovie Smith, former Chicago Bears head coach

The good: Smith was head coach of the Bears for nine years and holds a solid 81-63 record. He is 3-3 in the playoffs with one Super Bowl appearance. That is proof that Smith knows how to win in the postseason. Smith has an even-keeled demeanor that worked well in a large, pressure-packed city like Chicago. Buffalo pales in comparison and is a much smaller market.

The bad: Smith, another retread, only led Chicago to the playoffs in three of his nine seasons. That's not a good ratio. Smith didn't have many awful years, but he didn't have many tremendous years, either. The Bears were about average and finished with seven to nine wins in four of Smith's nine seasons. Smith is a good defensive coach, but his offenses have been terrible. The Bears were 23rd or worse in total offense in all but one of Smith's nine seasons.

Mike McCoy, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator

The good: McCoy's star continues to rise after the stellar job he's done the past two years with quarterbacks Tim Tebow and Peyton Manning -- two very different signal-callers in terms of experience level and talents. Yet, McCoy thrived and made it to at least the divisional round with both players. Buffalo is unsure of its quarterback situation. But whoever next year's quarterback is, he'll most likely would benefit if taught by McCoy.

The bad: The Bills, or any other team, must wait for McCoy to finish his season. The Broncos are expected to make a deep playoff run. Some predict Denver will make it the Super Bowl. That would significantly push back any timeline for the Bills to get started with McCoy -- and time is of the essence.

Chip Kelly, University of Oregon head coach

The good: Kelly is an innovative coach whose fast-paced, up-tempo offense is redefining the sport. New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick credits Kelly for helping the Patriots improve their tempo on offense this season. Kelly has produced plenty of NFL players during his tenure at Oregon.

The bad: The pro level isn't for every college coach. Even top college coaches such as Nick Saban failed in the NFL. Can Kelly make it in the pros? That's the big unknown. But Kelly has a cushy job at Oregon and tons of interest from other NFL teams. The Bills might have to pay top dollar and perhaps get into a bidding war to convince Kelly to leave the college ranks and choose Buffalo over other NFL teams.

This is a good list to start for Buffalo. The Bills are doing a good job of getting right to work and lining up as many coaching candidates as possible.

Which coach out of this group would be the best fit for Buffalo?

University of Oregon head coach Chip Kelly must have a tough time concentrating on the Fiesta Bowl this week in Arizona. Kelly is slated for multiple NFL interviews -- including with the Buffalo Bills.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns are scheduled to interview Kelly this week. Buffalo execs are currently in Arizona to interview former Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt and defensive coordinator Ray Horton. So in many ways this is one-stop shopping for the Bills, who can get three interviews done in short order.

Buffalo also has been linked to Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and former Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith. Here is a poll from earlier Wednesday on whom our AFC East community thinks the Bills should hire among the early candidates.