BUFFALO, N.Y. — Former Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt met with friend and former colleague Chan Gailey Thursday to see if the Buffalo Bills' coach might have for a job for him.

The Bills didn't provide details in announcing the meeting had taken place Thursday.

Forced to resign by Pittsburgh last month, Wannstedt has an extensive defensive background and would be a good fit for a Bills defense that had difficulty stopping the run and allowed 30 or more points nine times.

HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut hired former Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni as its head football coach Thursday, bringing him back to college football and the Big East.The 61-year-old native of Cheshire replaces Randy Edsall, who took the head coaching job at Maryland after leading UConn to an 8-5 season and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl. vs. Oklahoma.

CLEVELAND — St. Louis offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur was hired Thursday by the Cleveland Browns, where he'll take over for the fired Eric Mangini.Shurmur is the Browns' fifth coach since their expansion return in 1999.

AUBURN, Ala. — Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft after leading Auburn to its first national championship since 1957.Auburn released a statement Thursday night announcing the quarterback's decision.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos hired former Carolina Panthers coach John Fox Thursday to resurrect a once-proud but recently downtrodden franchise.Fox’s contract wasn’t renewed by the Panthers following an NFL-worst 2-14 season. He replaces Josh McDaniels, who was fired Dec. 6 amid the Broncos’ worst slide in four decades.