Josh McDaniels no longer candidate

— -- New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has withdrawn from consideration for the Cleveland Browns' head-coaching job, a league source told ESPN.

A person who knows McDaniels told ESPN the coach had an "awesome" meeting with the Browns but that it is not the right time for him to make a move. McDaniels enjoys his job working with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick too much to leave New England at this time, according to the source.

McDaniels never began negotiating a deal and there never was any declaration of where McDaniels stood one way or another, whether he was or wasn't the front-runner in Cleveland, or whether he would or would not go to Cleveland, the source said. McDaniels simply decided independently of where they stood that he was going to remain in New England, the source added.

McDaniels was said to be impressed with the Browns, especially owner Jimmy Haslam. The two had what was described as a "great" conversation.

The Browns thought McDaniels was even more "likable" than they expected him to be, another source told ESPN.

Cleveland is looking to replace Rob Chudzinski, who was fired after going 4-12 and finishing on a seven-game losing streak in his only season as coach.