New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker interviewed for the Browns' head coach position with owner Randy Lerner on Friday.

Also, Browns director of player personnel T.J. McCreight was formally interviewed for the position of general manager.

Meanwhile, a source said that Rich McKay, Atlanta Falcons president, will not agree to an interview for the general manager job until the Falcons are out of the playoffs. Atlanta plays at Arizona in an NFC wild-card game today.

McKay has been immersed in his team's season and is not prepared to sit down for an interview, the source said. As long as Atlanta advances, it lessens McKay's candidacy because Lerner seems bent on acting fast.

Scott Pioli, Lerner's original top choice for the GM position, was scheduled to be interviewed for a similar vacancy with Kansas City on Monday. That interview might be pushed up to today at Pioli's request, however, so that he can make a choice between the Browns and Chiefs, the source said.

McDaniels, a Canton native and former John Carroll University receiver, was the third coaching candidate interviewed and Tucker the fourth.

Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will be interviewed today.

Previous interviews were given to fired Jets head coach Eric Mangini and Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Tucker is the first minority candidate interviewed. It puts the Browns in compliance with the NFL's "Rooney Rule." The Browns laid some groundwork for other interviews with minority candidates but have not yet acted on them.

McCreight is hoping to ascend to the GM position vacated by the firing of Phil Savage. McCreight joined Savage from Baltimore in 2005 and eventually displaced Bill Rees as director of player personnel. McCreight has been in charge of the personnel department since Savage was fired last weekend.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: tgrossi@plaind.com, 216-999-4670