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Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase is strongly considering remaining in Denver instead of making the leap to the Browns.

(AP, file)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase is leaning toward remaining in Denver and not taking the Browns head coaching job if it's offered, a league source told cleveland.com.

Gase, who's expected to interview with the Browns after he's eliminated from the playoffs, loves his job in Denver and relishes the idea of spending a second season as Peyton Manning's offensive coordinator.

The Broncos will face the Patriots in the AFC Championship Sunday afternoon in Denver, and the Browns can interview him as early as Sunday night or Monday if the Broncos are eliminated. If he advances to the Super Bowl, the Browns will have to determine if they want to wait until Feb. 3 to interview him.

They also really like multiple candidates they've already interviewed, including Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. On Saturday, they also interviewed Cowboys special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, according to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer.

Bisaccia comes highly recommended from former Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden, who's a friend of Browns owner Jimmy Haslam. Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who's close to taking the Vikings coordinator job, also hired Bisaccia in 2011 in San Diego and gave him the added duties of assistant head coach in 2012.

Word in league circles is that agent Bob LaMonte has been telling folks that Gase, 35, might need another season as coordinator before taking a head job. What's more, he thinks Gase will have multiple opportunities next year, especially after one more season with Manning, who's playing the best ball of his career under Gase.

Question is, will the Browns still conduct the interview if they get the sense that Gase is having reservations? If they do, it's because they think they can sell Gase on the merits of the job once they get in front of him. The Browns have the No. 4 and No. 26s pick in the first round and three picks in the first 35. They also have five selections in the top 83, and five Pro Bowlers providing they re-sign potential free agents T.J. Ward and Alex Mack.

The Browns also have Brian Hoyer coming back from his torn ACL and will have a chance to land one of the top two or three quarterbacks in the draft, including Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, Central Florida's Blake Bortles and Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater.

But the Browns aren't heading into the interview with the idea that Gase is their top target, a source said. The Browns have plenty of things to consider too, including the fact that Gase is young and has been a coordinator for only one year. He'd have to beat out some of the top candidates they've already interviewed to receive an offer. Quinn and Pettine have been apparently gaining steam in recent days.

Gase is certainly not a slam-dunk from either side at this point, but anything can happen in an interview.

With Manning expected to play again next season, Gase could enhance his status as one of the rising stars in the game. Manning set career-highs this year in TD passes (55) and yards (5,477).

"I still think (Manning') young and playing well," Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway told reporters on Thursday, via USA Today Sports. "Having been a football player before, when you leave this game, you want to leave it on your last leg (and) try not to leave anything on the table. And so anybody that's a competitor — that's the way they want to leave the game. I was just fortunate to be on two great football teams and be able to win two world championships when my last leg broke."

Elway also loves Gase and has encouraged him to stay.

"I wish I could've played for him, yeah. He's so bright," Elway said.“He’s had a great year, and he’s just got such a great feel….I hope he stays. For him to be able to do what he did and to say, ‘I want to keep my focus on the Denver Broncos and once our season is over I’ll interview,’ to me, that was studly. I like guys that are committed to what they’re doing, committed to the Denver Broncos. So I couldn’t be more proud of that decision. It tells you a lot about the guy.”

Meanwhile, the Browns could have an opportunity to interview Quinn a second time as early as Monday if the Seahawks lose the NFC Championship game Sunday night to the 49ers. If he advances to the Super Bowl, the Browns can interview him the week beforehand, because they've already talked to him once.

It's not yet known if the Browns will reach out to 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman, a graduate of John Carroll University, or defensive coordinator Vic Fangio if the 49ers are eliminated Sunday.

Quinn, 43, presides over the NFL's top-ranked defense (273.6) yards per game, and one that's also first in the NFL with only 14.4 points allowed per game. The Seahawks were tied for eighth in the NFL during the regular season with 44 sacks. He began his career primarily as a defensive line coach, and has worked for the 49ers, Dolphins, Jets and at the University of Florida.

Quinn's mentors include Steve Mariucci, former Browns coach Eric Mangini and his current head coach, Pete Carroll.

“Dan is a terrific football coach, he’s got tremendous background in the game, he’s got great character about the game, he’s a great communicator, he’s tough, he knows what he wants,'' Carroll told reporters. "Look how well he transitioned to take this thing over so quickly and like I said, ‘Seamlessly.’ Getting along with people, working with people, and also managing the talent, all of that. He’s really well-equipped...

"[The playoffs are] first and foremost and all of our guys understand, but also I’ll help our guys any way that I can to fulfill the dreams that they have for themselves and proudly go about that. So we’ll deal with this normally also.”

Pettine, 47, is coming off his first season as Bills’ defensive coordinator. His defense ranked 10th overall and 20th in scoring. Pettine ran 3-4 hybrid defense in Buffalo, which finished second in interceptions and sacks.

He served as the Jets defensive coordinator from 2009-12, with top-10 defenses all four seasons, including a No. 1 ranking in 2009. Pettine was also a Ravens assistant from 2002-08, so he knows the AFC North.

Bisaccia would be making the rare leap from special teams coordinator to head coach, but has served two stints as assistant head coach, to Gruden in Tampa Bay and Turner.

The Browns also interviewed fired Titans coach Mike Munchak on Monday, but it's not known if he's still in the mix. He's also up for the Texans' offensive line job.