NFL Monday Night

If Cleveland succeeds in hiring New England’s vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli, then one of the names that would vault to the top of the Browns coaching search would be University of Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz.

The Texans announced three defensive coaches — defensive coordinator Richard Smith, defensive backs coach Jon Hoke and defensive line coach Jethro Franklin — were fired on Tuesday.

San Francisco brought back head coach Mike Singletary but it decided today not to retain offensive coordinator Mike Martz, a league source said.