NFL notes: Browns name Pettine new coach

Mike Pettine knows he might not have been Cleveland’s first choice or even the Browns’ second pick.

All that matters to the son of a high school coaching legend is that he’s the one they selected.

“It’s been my life-long dream to be an NFL head coach,” Pettine said Thursday, “and however that opportunity presents itself, it’s fine with me.”

After nearly a month of twists, turns and talk, the Browns found their man.

Buffalo’s defensive coordinator, who didn’t seem to be on Cleveland’s radar when the team began a coaching search last month, signed a five-year contract Thursday and was named the Browns’ seventh full-time coach since 1999. Pettine replaces Rob Chudzinski, fired on Dec. 29 after just one season.

The Browns interviewed 10 candidates before deciding on the 47-year-old Pettine, who has built a solid reputation with a no-nonsense approach with his players.

Coaching changes

Pittsburgh hired former Tennessee head coach Mike Munchak as their offensive line coach. Munchak, a Hall of Fame guard during his 12-year playing career with the Houston Oilers, went 22-26 in three seasons with Tennessee. … Tennessee hired Giff Smith as their defensive line coach and Bob Bostad as the offensive line coach. … Chicago says it has hired former Syracuse and Connecticut coach Paul Pasqualoni as defensive line coach and Reggie Herring as linebackers coach. Pasqualoni was 10-18 with UConn.

Peterson recovering

Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson had groin surgery and is expected to spend the next six weeks recovering.

The Vikings said the operation went as planned, in Philadelphia by Dr. William Meyers. This was Peterson’s third, though least invasive, surgery in the last 25 months.

Cowboys extend Bailey

Dallas signed kicker Dan Bailey to a seven-year contract through 2020. In three seasons with the Cowboys, Bailey has made 91 percent of his field goals (89 of 98) and all 123 extra-point attempts. Bailey was set to be a restricted free agent.