"The Cleveland Browns have received permission to talk to Eagles defensive-backs coach Dick Jauron about the Browns' defensive coordinator position, a source close to the situation confirmed yesterday.

Jauron, 60, was a head coach with the Bills and Bears. When he was hired last February, the hope was that he could bring some experience to a very young defensive staff, but it seemed from the beginning that Jauron might be marking time before getting a bigger opportunity.

Rumors about Jauron going to Cleveland have circulated since shortly after the Eagles' season ended Sunday with a wild-card-round playoff loss to the Packers. Asked about them Monday, Jauron said he hadn't heard anything.

Jauron was on the coaching staff of Browns president Mike Holmgren in Green Bay in the '90s. Holmgren, this week, hired Pat Shurmur, the Rams' offensive coordinator and a former Eagles quarterbacks coach, as his head coach. Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan seems not to be in Holmgren's or Shurmur's plans, and seems to be in the process of moving to Dallas.

There was noyesterday on another Eagles assistant who might be leaving; a source said no teams have asked to talk to offensive-line coach Juan Castillo, who has been mentioned in speculation concerning the Browns and the Minnesota Vikings. Castillo, a source said, remains very close with former Eagles assistant Leslie Frazier, Minnesota's new head coach."