Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien has emerged as a leading candidate to be hired as Joe Paterno's successor at Penn State, according to sources familiar with the situation. With New England getting ready to head into its bye week before the AFC divisional playoffs, and with Penn State's season finishing up Monday against Houston in the TicketCity Bowl, the school is expected to pursue O'Brien as soon as this week, sources say. Titans head coach Mike Munchak also remains a leading candidate despite saying this week he wasn't leaving his NFL job. Penn State has not given up hope it can lure Munchak for its coaching vacancy, a persistence grounded in the belief the Titans coach may listen to the Nittany Lions after all, sources told ESPN's Joe Schad on Saturday. Munchak has repeatedly stated he would remain at Tennessee, but a source close to him said Munchak is struggling with the concept that he can "fix and make right" his alma mater. Source: ESPN.com
