Kolb, however, got off to a 1-6 start and had trouble adapting to coach Ken Whisenhunt's offense.
Two people familiar with the meeting said Whisenhunt had a second interview with the Browns on Thursday.
This year Bidwill also has hired a new head coach, Ken Whisenhunt, former offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On Thursday, former Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt was brought to Cleveland for a second interview and he appeared to be the frontrunner.
As a former minority owner with Pittsburgh, Haslam is very familiar with Whisenhunt, who would come in with an understanding of the AFC North.
Whisenhunt went 45-51 in six regular seasons he was 4-2 in the playoffs and led the Cardinals to their only Super Bowl appearance.
Whisenhunt spent six seasons as an assistant in Pittsburgh, the final three as offensive coordinator under Bill Cowher before he was hired by the Cardinals.
The Cardinals also let Whisenhunt go on Black Monday, Dec. 31, cutting ties with the winningest coach in franchise history and the one who helped resurrected a sad-sack franchise.
The team met with Whisenhunt last week in Arizona, where Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner are known to have conducted interviews with at least four other candidates.
Whisenhunt, recently fired after six seasons with the Cardinals, visited the Browns away from their headquarters in Berea, Ohio, said one person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the search.
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