BEREA, Ohio – Apparently Romeo Crennel was one of the hottest topics of conversation at the Indianapolis Colts-Denver Broncos playoff game Sunday.

A league source in attendance told the Boston Globe that Crennel “just blew away” the Browns’ front office during his interview Friday. The rave review Crennel received after meeting with owner Randy Lerner, president John Collins and new general manager Phil Savage has led to speculation that Crennel is the Browns’ front-runner.

“His stock sky rocketed with the Cleveland people,” the official told the Globe.

Crennel also spent six hours talking to the San Francisco 49ers about their vacancy late Friday and Saturday, and some already wonder if the Browns will end up in a bidding war with the 49ers.

Crennel, 57, has worked with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick for 18 years, under him for the past four. Crennel spent 2000 as the Browns’ defensive coordinator under coach Chris Palmer.

Interim coach Terry Robiskie was interviewed by Lerner, Collins and Savage on Monday in New York City as the Browns completed talks with their top four. That group of candidates also includes Pittsburgh Steelers associate head coach Russ Grimm and Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress. Lerner and Collins spoke to Childress a week ago before Savage was hired, and if Childress is receiving serious consideration, it’s likely Savage would want to talk to him.

The Browns’ coaching search to replace Butch Davis, who resigned Nov. 30, could go into a holding pattern this week. The Steelers, Eagles and Patriots are hosts of playoff games this weekend, and the Browns cannot speak to Childress, Crennel or Grimm again until their teams’ seasons end.

Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Nolan or consultant Jim Fassel, whose contract with the Ravens expired Dec. 31, also could be on Savage’s wish list. Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator and interim coach Jim Bates, who worked with Savage in Cleveland from 1991-93 and in 1995, also has expressed interest in the job. New Dolphins coach Nick Saban said Monday he has another coordinator in mind.

Savage might be headed to workouts for the East-West Shrine Game on Saturday in San Francisco, and that trip could have a two-fold purpose.

Internet reports from ESPN and Fox Sports said Savage is interesting in hiring 49ers director of player personnel Bill Rees. Rees, a former quarterback at Ohio Wesleyan, worked with Savage in 1990 at UCLA, where Rees spent 15 years as an assistant and recruiting coordinator.

University of Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has been mentioned as a long shot for the Browns’ position, but he insisted again Monday that he doesn’t want to move his family from Iowa City. Ferentz said Savage, though, is one of four men, two of of them head coaches, he would like to work under.

Savage and Ferentz are close friends from the six years they spent together in Cleveland and Baltimore from 1993-98. But Ferentz and his wife, Mary, have five children, including Brian, who will be a senior offensive lineman next year at Iowa, a ninth-grader and a fifth-grader.

“When we came back here one of our goals was to have our kids know what home is for a while,” said Ferentz, who has been at Iowa for the past six seasons. “That’s tough to do in the NFL, and it’s pretty tricky in college.

“Cleveland took a major stride last week, but we’re happy where we are right now.”

Ferentz left the door open a crack. Asked if he could have his arm twisted, Ferentz said: “I’m pretty sure. I’ve given it a lot of thought.”

What if Lerner and Savage show up at Iowa on the Lerner jet and offer him millions?

“I’ve had that discussion with myself,” Ferentz said.

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AP-NY-01-10-05 2021EST