The Cleveland Browns think highly enough of Adam Gase that they have been willing to delay a decision on their head-coaching vacancy until the Denver Broncos offensive coordinator is available to be interviewed.
Gase has been viewed as the Browns' top target for weeks, but he turned down all interview requests to concentrate on the playoffs.
Although John Elway hopes Gase stays in Denver, the Broncos' chief football executive is appreciative of his play-caller's team-first priorities at the most crucial time of the season.
"For him to be able to do what he did and to say, 'I want to keep my focus on the Denver Broncos, and once our season is over, I'll interview,' to me, that was studly," Elway said, via ESPN.com. "Because it was to me, I like guys that are committed to what they're doing, committed to the Denver Broncos. So I couldn't be more proud of that decision. It tells you a lot about the guy."
There's a perception in some football circles that Gase is simply along for the ride, with Peyton Manning at the controls of the Broncos' record-breakingoffense. To hear Elway tell it, that couldn't be further from the truth.
"I wish I could have played for him," Elway added. "I think that he's so bright and he's working with Peyton and having been here with Josh (McDaniels) before that -- who is a very bright, young offensive mind -- he has just used all of that and learned from all that. With (Mike) McCoy here, then Peyton here and now him on his own, he's been able to put them all together and mold it as his personality and I think he's done a tremendous job. That shows up in the numbers we've put up this year."
Gase is a disciple of former St. Louis Rams coach and offensive innovator Mike Martz. People in the industry have described him to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport as a dynamic, young version of Chiefs coach Andy Reid.
Still just 35 years old and in his first season as play-caller, Gase has a bright future in Denver if he opts to stick around with Elway and Manning in 2014. It's not a given that he will accept the Browns' head-coaching job if offered.
We previewed Championship Sunday and sat down with Rams star Robert Quinn in the latest "Around The League Podcast."