NFL Notebook | Eric Mangini seems like favorite in Cleveland

Fired by the New York Jets after a late-season meltdown, Eric Mangini might not be unemployed for long. He impressed Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner in an interview this past week and could become the successor to Romeo Crennel, who was fired Monday after three seasons.

ESPN reported on Saturday that Mangini is the front-runner to get the job, although it remains to be seen how Lerner will complete his front-office overhaul if Mangini becomes the coach.

Lerner is trying to entice Scott Pioli, Patriots vice president of player personnel, to become the Browns' general manager. But Pioli and Mangini have barely spoken since the Spygate episode of 2007, when the Jets turned in the Patriots for illegally videotaping the Jets' defensive signals in a Week 1 game.

If Pioli were to be named general manager, league sources familiar with his situation say he prefers Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz as his coach.

Lerner's scheduled interview with Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was postponed Saturday because of a scheduling conflict, said a league source, who was unsure if the meeting had been rescheduled.

Schwartz interviewed for the Detroit Lions' coaching opening on Saturday, according to the NFL Network's Adam Schefter.

Unless it can be reset for today, Lerner will have to wait until the Titans are eliminated from the playoffs, or during the week before the Super Bowl, if the Titans get that far.

Notes

• Fans purchased more than 20,000 tickets to Minnesota's playoff game over six days, assuring there will be no local TV blackout when the Vikings host Philadelphia at the Metrodome today.

The Vikings announced the sales results Saturday afternoon for their wild-card playoff game with the Eagles after moving the remaining 3,100 seats that were still unsold the day before. There were a limited number of tickets remaining for the game, including some returned by the Eagles.

The NFL gave the Vikings two extensions, the second until Saturday — 24 hours before kickoff — after they sold about 5,000 seats from Thursday to Friday.

Only about 55 percent of the 55,000 season-ticket holders chose to buy playoff tickets, leaving the large supply.

• The search for Mike Shanahan's successor took the Denver Broncos brass to the East Coast.

Owner Pat Bowlen, chief operating officer Joe Ellis and personnel chief Jim Goodman jetted off to New York for a dinner meeting with New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, followed by conversation today with New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Spagnuolo also interviewed with the Jets, Cleveland and Detroit.

Shanahan, meanwhile, reportedly would be Dallas owner Jerry Jones' top choice as coach, but not likely until 2010, according to ESPN. Jones has repeatedly said coach Wade Phillips will return for 2009.

• A coaching shake-up for the Bears could involve the addition of Rod Marinelli, but the agent for the fired Detroit Lions coach doesn't anticipate an immediate move.

Marinelli was at Halas Hall on Friday with Bears coach Lovie Smith. Frank Bauer downplayed his client's visit, even though Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said Tuesday he would love to have Marinelli on the staff. Smith expressed admiration for Marinelli as well.

• Fired Detroit Lions president Matt Millen, the architect of the NFL's first 0-16 team, says he's responsible for its historic encounter with failure.

Appearing Saturday on NBC's "Football Night in America," Millen said he would have fired himself after the 2008 season. He said that being sacked after the third week cost the Lions and Marinelli some needed stability and consistency.