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According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Cleveland Browns have received permission to interview Ray Horton for their defensive coordinator position this week:
The #Browns will interview #Titans defensive coordinator Ray Horton this week, source said. They're getting permission.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 18, 2016
The news comes after the conflicting reports that came out on Sunday. First, a report surfaced that Horton was insulted by the Titans' organization due to their opinion of him during their head coaching search, and that he was being let out of his contract. Later in the day, Horton himself told the media that the report was not true, and that he had respect for the Titans organization and was still under contract.
When the second report came out on Sunday, I speculated that Horton was doing some damage control for something that was taken out of context, and that there could still be merit of Horton going from Tennessee to Cleveland. With the news that Horton is getting an interview with the Browns, I'd say he's as good as gone in Tennessee. With that said, Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 the Fan cautions fans that there still could be a hiccup:
Steps to hire Ray Horton for #Browns 1) request permission to interview 2) interview 3) get let out of #Titans contract 4) hire
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) January 18, 2016