CLEVELAND -- Another qualified coaching candidate has eluded the Browns. Harrison Bader Jersey . Ken Whisenhunts decision to accept Tennessees opening leaves Cleveland as one of just three NFL franchises still searching for a head coach. Whisenhunt, who guided Arizona to a Super Bowl, came close to being hired by the Browns last year and interviewed with the team on Saturday. San Diegos loss on Sunday in the AFC playoffs freed up teams to make offers to Whisenhunt and he chose the Titans after it appeared he was headed to Detroit. Its not known if the Browns tried to outbid the Titans for the well-regarded 51-year-old. With Whisenhunt no longer in the mix, the Browns moved into the third week of their quest to replace Rob Chudzinski without any clear front-runner, but with a new former NFL head coach on their list. The team has interviewed at least five known candidates and the Browns reportedly met Monday with former Titans coach Mike Munchak, also in consideration with the Lions. The 53-year-old Munchak, a Hall of Fame lineman, went 22-26 in three seasons with the Titans, who fired him on Jan. 4, ending his 30-plus-years association with the franchise. Clevelands degree of interest in Munchak isnt known since the team is not commenting on any interviews and Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner have maintained a low profile since dumping Chudzinski after one season. And while there may not be a current favourite to take over as Clevelands seventh full-time coach since 1999, there are signs that Denver offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase could be the Browns top choice. The 35-year-old Gase was the first candidate contacted by the Browns, but he informed them -- along with the Minnesota Vikings -- that he wanted to wait until after the playoffs to be considered. "I told both teams that were interested in me that I appreciated it and I was going to wait until after our season had concluded," Gase said on Jan. 3. "They were great about it. They said they appreciated me being up front and honest about it, and I thought that was the best decision for what we are trying to accomplish with our team." Its not known if Gase has agreed to an interview with either team. NFL rules prohibit teams from offering jobs to assistant coaches who are still in the playoffs. Gases decision to delay any interviews raised some flags about whether hes actually ready to be a head coach. But as long as hes paired with quarterback Peyton Manning, Gases profile will continue to grow and hell undoubtedly be coveted if he waits another year. Following Denvers win on Sunday over San Diego, Manning praised Gase during his postgame news conference for his play calling in helping the Broncos advance to Sundays AFC Championship against New England. In his first season as Denvers offensive co-ordinator, the Broncos scored an NFL record 606 points and led the league with 457.3 yards per game and 340.3 yards passing. His resume is impressive, but even if the Browns meet with Gase, its not a given he will be hired. Hes never been a head coach, and Haslam and Banner said they were determined to find a "strong winner who knows how to win football games" as they began looking for their second coach in just over a year. If the Browns chose to wait on Gase, they run the risk of the coaching talent pool drying up and being in a desperate situation should he turn them down. Cleveland has waited until after the Super Bowl before. Following the 2004 season, the Browns hired Romeo Crennel in the hours after the Super Bowl. The Browns are already losing a public relations war as the search has dragged on. After New England offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels withdrew his name from consideration for Clevelands opening last week, it heightened the perception that Cleveland is not an attractive job. It hasnt helped that some national reports have described the Browns situation as "toxic" and "radioactive." Haslam and Banner have also interviewed Seattle defensive co-ordinator Dan Quinn, Arizona defensive co-ordinator Todd Bowles and Green Bay quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo. Dexter Fowler Cardinals Jersey . A top pitching prospect, one who the ball club is pinning some of its future hopes, takes the spot of a veteran who once was viewed as a future ace but who, to this point, hasnt realized his potential and may never. St. Louis Cardinals Jerseys . With the union re-formed, negotiations with owners will resume Friday on the remaining issues that would be in the collective bargaining agreement, according to a person familiar with the plans.ST. LOUIS -- David Backes scored twice and Jaden Schwartz added a goal and two assists to lead the St. Louis Blues over the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Thursday night. St. Louis has won eight of 11 overall. At 13-2-2, the Blues tied Boston, Pittsburgh and Minnesota for most home-ice wins. Toronto lost its third in a row. Alexander Steen, Derek Roy and Chris Stewart scored for St. Louis, which has points in its last six games against Toronto. The teams met for the first time since Nov. 10, 2011. Nazem Kadri, Nikolai Kulemin and James van Riemsdyk scored for the Maple Leafs, who got two goals in the final 5 1/2 minutes. Brian Elliott, appearing in his third successive game, made 19 saves to improve to 6-1-1. Steen scored his 22nd goal, second in the NHL to Washingtons Alex Ovechkin, who has 26 goals. Schwartz recorded the second three-point game of his career. St. Louis scored three times in the first 16::10 to chase goalie James Reimer, who faced 15 shots. Drew Robinson Jersey. It was the seventh time this season the Blues have sent a starting goaltender to an early exit. Backes got the first and last goals of the game. He beat Reimer with a 20-foot wrist shot at 4:48 of the first period. He scored into an empty net for his 15th goal and giving him 29 points, one more than his total for all of last season. Schwartz and Roy scored 3:11 apart to push the lead to 3-0. NOTES: St. Louis took 36 shots to Torontos 22. The Maple Leafs have outshot their opponents only four times this season. ... The Blues are 18-1-2 when scoring first. ....Toronto D Paul Ranger played in his 300th NHL game. ... St. Louis has scored at least two goals in all 17 home games this season. ... Maple Leafs D Dion Phaneuf served the final game of a two-game suspension for a hit on Bostons Kevan Millar on Sunday. .... Toronto has not won in regulation in its last 12 games. ' ' '