With Cleveland reportedly deciding on former Jets coach Eric Mangini to replace Romeo Crennel, that makes it far less likely that New England personnel man Scott Pioli will end up as the Browns' general manager.

Pioli reportedly wants to hire his own people and, if nothing else, make his own decision on the direction of the team that hires him. There are few bigger directional shifts than a coaching change, and the Cleveland job probably just lost much of its luster for a man who appears eager to make his own name and establish a team's future.

Pioli reportedly interviewed this week with Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt, who is looking to name Kansas City's first general manager in more than 20 years. Pioli seems to fit Hunt's profile, but Pioli also reportedly wants total control of a franchise. Hunt has said he will split the president and GM jobs that Peterson held for two decades.

The Browns and Chiefs had been the top suitors for Pioli, who might be just as interested in staying with the Patriots, with whom he has won three Super Bowls since joining his friend Bill Belichick in 2000.

Hunt gave no update on the GM search during or after Peterson's farewell event at Chiefs headquarters.