Browns interview Kokinis

Browns owner Randy Lerner interviewed Baltimore Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis Sunday and their meeting reportedly went well. But the possibility of hiring Kokinis as general manager to partner with coach Eric Mangini will have to wait.

The Ravens advanced to Sunday's AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, making Kokinis unavailable to join the Browns until Baltimore's playoff run ends. That could be after the Super Bowl Feb. 1 in Tampa.

The delay will give Lerner time to consider other candidates. He vowed Friday to be ''thorough and thoughtful'' in his search and said he felt there was less urgency in finding a general manager than
hiring a coach. As of Monday morning, no other interviews had been scheduled, a source said.

Kokinis began his pro career as an intern in the Browns' operations department in 1991, then moved into scouting. He has worked with Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome for 18 years. Kokinis met Mangini in 1994, when Mangini served as a Browns ball boy and public relations intern, and they were roommates for a time.

One of the main focuses of Mangini's week will be filling his coaching staff. Jets quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll is expected to be named offensive coordinator and Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan should be picked for that same post. By some reports, Ryan is already at work since his contract with Oakland was expiring.