NFL reporter Adam Schefter has declared that he thinks Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is merely a "fallback" option as the Cleveland Browns continue their search for a new head coach.

The Browns have come in for criticism for the way in which they have dealt with replacing Rob Chudzinski, who was fired almost a month ago.

On Wednesday, Pettine was named as the new favourite for the role, although Schefter believes that the Browns are not so sure on hiring him.

He told an ESPN radio show: "I'll say this on the Cleveland Browns - expect the unexpected. The Mike Pettine situation is going on, they've interviewed him twice. If they wanted to hire him they could just go ahead and do that and maybe they still will.

"But reading between the lines, they're hopping around, they're interviewing other candidates, they're bouncing around the country. I think if Pettine were their guy it would just be over and done with. And the longer it goes on the less likely in my mind that Pettine becomes the guy.

"I think Pettine is in play clearly. I think I would categorize him now as a fallback option. I think they're looking at other things. They're interviewing other candidates. They spoke to Dirk Koetter this morning. They're continuing to reach out to people."

Pettine has coached in the NFL since 2001, but has never had a head coaching role. He has been in his position with the Bills for just a year.