Mike Pettine nearly withdrew his name for consideration from the Cleveland Browns' vacancy.

Pettine was hired by the Browns as head coach on Thursday.

"That was starting to wear on me these last couple of days," Pettine told WGR-AM in Buffalo. "I talked to (coach) Doug (Marrone) and it was getting to the point where I'd say, 'Hey, if this goes on much longer I need to pull out because it's just not fair to the Bills.'"

Pettine has tried to distance himself from his mentor Rex Ryan.