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And the game of cat-and-mouse continues. The Browns hired former Ravens front-office type Phil Savage in 2005, and players like punter Dave Zastudil, cornerback Gary Baxter, running back Jamal Lewis and quarterback Derek Anderson have all followed.

The tide is turning, however: Baltimore will interview Browns' offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski for Brian Billick's old job.

Under the 39-year-old Chudzinski, the Browns had two 1,000-yard receivers (Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Jamal Lewis). Quarterback Derek Anderson, who began the season as a backup, threw 29 touchdown passes.

Actually, I'm guessing this has little to do with payback, and everything to do with making the Ravens a competent offensive team. Of course, it's not unheard of for an organization to interview a rival coach with the express purpose of gaining a few behind-the-scenes insights. Given that Baltimore and Cleveland are already pretty familiar with one another, I can't imagine this to be the case.

If anything, this is recognition that Chudzinski did an amazing job with the Browns this season. The decision to bench Charlie Frye certainly helped, but I feel confident in writing that Maurice Carthon wouldn't have had this much success.

Chudzinski still has to be a long shot for the Ravens gig. Not so much because he's an unknown, but because everybody's a long shot: the team is interviewing 28 other candidates.

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