National Football League

Mularkey mum on interview with Browns

Published Jan. 9, 2011 10:58 p.m. ET

foxsports

Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey doesn't know Cleveland's timeframe for hiring a new coach following his recent interview with the Browns.

That was about all Mularkey would acknowledge publicly about his candidacy in Cleveland. He interviewed with Browns team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert on Saturday.

''I'm going to move on from commenting about that,'' Mularkey said Sunday. ''I'll move on to anything else you want to talk about.''

Mularkey, who is helping the Falcons prepare for a home playoff game Saturday, hopes to become an NFL head coach for the second time. He had a 14-18 record with Buffalo from 2004-05.

Mularkey canceled an interview with the Denver Broncos last week. He isn't sure if the Browns will request a second interview, but Mularkey was adamant that his primary focus is Atlanta's next game.

''I just know this has been very important to me,'' he said. ''It's important to our team. I'm not sure when a decision is coming down.''

In his first three seasons with Atlanta, Mularkey has helped quarterback Matt Ryan become a burgeoning star.

Ryan was the NFL offensive rookie of the year in 2008 after the Falcons drafted him No. 3 overall.

Mularkey wouldn't discuss Cleveland's rookie quarterback, Colt McCoy, or other Browns players, but he was eager to talk about Ryan's development.

''Well, he certainly can make a lot of people look good,'' Mularkey said. ''He's a special player and he helps everybody be better, including us as coaches.''

Ryan isn't yet considered an equal of elite quarterbacks such as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or Philip Rivers, but Mularkey likes his growth alongside wideout Roddy White, the NFL's leading receiver.

Ryan's performance on third down this season was impressive, leading the NFL with 1,336 yards passing and tying for second with 15 touchdowns.

Atlanta earned a No. 1 playoff seed and will host either Seattle or Green Bay on Saturday night.

The Falcons (13-3) have ranked 16th in total offense the past two years, but they improved eight spots this season to No. 5 in scoring and moved up seven spots to No. 10 in third-down efficiency.