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Ken Whisenhunt couldn't recall exactly what was said in his Browns interview. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP)

INDIANAPOLIS -- Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt declined to say if former Browns CEO Joe Banner was the reason he didn't take the Browns job or if he called him out during the interview for questioning his potential staff in the 2013 interview.

Sports Illustrated's Peter King, in his Monday Morning Quarterback column, quoted a source as saying that Whisenhunt said to Banner with an edge in his voice: “Who are you to tell me what makes up a championship coaching staff?”

On Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine, Whisenhunt said, "I don't recall exactly what was said in those meetings. There was a lot going on at that time. There was not an exact quote from me that was in that article.''

Asked if Banner had something to do with him not taking the job, he said, "I don't know about that. I know I felt honored to have an opportunity to speak with Mr. (Jimmy) Haslam and Alec Scheiner and Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi and I felt good about the interview.''

Earlier in the interview, Whisenhunt said Banner “didn’t specifically talk about (a sub-par staff in 2013) with me. …I can’t comment on that because there’s a lot of things that go on. There’s nothing to really say about it. I ended up in Tennessee. I’m happy to be here. I’m excited about my opportunity.”

He also said he was honored to be considered by the Browns.

"I have a lot of respect for Mr. Haslam and that organization,'' he said. "I played against them, competed against them for a number of years. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity. I can’t speak to anything other than I’m honored to be considered there and I wish them the best.”

Two sources told cleveland.com that Whisenhunt did ask the Browns during the interview why he didn't get the job last year and was told that his potential staff didn't measure up. But Whisenhunt never shot back at Banner with the "who are you to tell me'' remark, the sources said.