DaytonDailyNews.com

CLEVELAND — George Kokinis, the Ravens' pro personnel director came to Cleveland on Monday, Jan. 19, but not to start work for the Browns.

Kokinis, the leading candidate to be Cleveland's next general manager, met with coach Eric Mangini and team executives but has not been offered the GM position, a person with knowledge of Kokinis' visit told The Associated Press.

Kokinis spent time with Mangini, a longtime friend, and other front-office members at the club's headquarters in Berea, but he did not have a second interview with Browns owner Randy Lerner, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the sides still are negotiating.

It's possible Kokinis will meet with Lerner later this week, the person said.

The 41-year-old Kokinis emerged as the front-runner to replace the fired Phil Savage after Mangini expressed a desire to work with him to Lerner during the coach's interview after he was fired by the New York Jets. Kokinis and Mangini started their NFL careers in Cleveland during the 1990s and have remained close.

Lerner took the unusual step of hiring his coach before his top football executive. But he was quickly convinced Mangini was right for the job, and Lerner wants to make sure his coach and GM are a good match, which may be why Kokinis hasn't been hired yet.

It was assumed that once the Ravens were eliminated from the playoffs that Kokinis immediately would take over in Cleveland. While he still may get the job, the Browns are in no rush.

Kokinis attended Sunday's AFC championship game in Pittsburgh, but kept a low profile, staying on the field during warm-ups and watching the game from the coaches box, perhaps to avoid reporters. He returned to Maryland with the Ravens before arriving in Ohio on Monday afternoon.

Kokinis has spent the past six years working alongside Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome, the Browns' hall-of-fame tight end. Kokinis has been instrumental in the Ravens' success in free agency but has had a limited role in the draft.

He began his career in 1991 in Cleveland's team operations department before becoming a scout.