Richards was forced to retire from the game in 2005 after suffering from dizzy spells and headaches - an illness which was initially diagnosed as an innerearinfection.
The Colts granted permission for the Browns to speak with Arians, who was released from the hospital on Wednesday after being treated for an innerearinfection that forced him to miss last week's playoff loss in Baltimore.
Although Ennis arrives in Barcelona as the world number one and favourite for heptathlon gold, an infection of the innerear earlier this month left her so dizzy she was unable to train.