What happens if Bill Cowher plays cool to imminent overtures by Browns ownership and declines to return to Cleveland as franchise savior?

There are contingency plans, according to sources, but none is overriding and any may be explored.

This much is certain: The Browns do not want to pair up General Manager Phil Savage with another unproven coach. Savage's future with the club depends on whether Savage would accept a lower profile in the organization and be overseen by a new layer of management, such as a vice president of Football operations.

Based on interviews with sources inside and outside the organization, the priorities are these: 1. A proven NFL head coach, who would want full authority but not necessarily double as general manager; or 2. a proven NFL executive who would stand above Savage and lay out the rebuilding plan and hire the coach.

Sources say these are some of the candidates who would fit in each priority:

Proven head coach

1. Cowher: There is nobody better qualified for this job. He knows the division better than anybody out there, knows how to beat Pittsburgh and has roots here. He would fire up a slumbering team and market.

2. Andy Reid: Odds are good he will return for an 11th season in Philadelphia. There is a chance, however, that management will ask him to give up some personnel authority and Reid could say no and walk away.

3. Marvin Lewis: No, he is not in trouble of losing his job with the Bengals. But there is some sentiment making the rounds that Lewis would not mind being released because he feels there is no chance of winning a Super Bowl in Cincinnati. Some NFL observers believe Lewis would be a much better coach with a stronger personnel department. Bengals President Mike Brown would loathe releasing Lewis with two years on his contract and see him drive up I-71 to Cleveland.

4. Marty Schottenheimer: At 65, he doesn't appear to want to coach but would rather head up the front office, a position for which he is not nearly as qualified.

Proven NFL executive

1. Scott Pioli: The New England vice president is a natural fit, having started his NFL career here under Bill Belichick. Pioli is ready to scratch the itch to run his own operation. He would not be a fit with Savage, however, has never hired a coach and prefers to stay in the background.

2. Ernie Accorsi: The retired former general manager of the Giants, Browns and Colts would be a terrific front man and organizer of this rebuilding project. He also would be a great mentor for Savage. Biggest problem is Accorsi enjoys retirement too much to give it up.

3. Rich McKay: The Atlanta Falcons president is one of the sharpest executives in the NFL. He has a Football background but has been most effective supervising a personnel expert below him, such as he had at Tampa Bay with Jerry Angelo and then Tim Ruskell and now in Atlanta with Thomas Dimitroff. He could duplicate that situation here with Savage, but he is enmeshed in securing a new stadium for the Falcons and may be deemed too valuable to Falcons owner Arthur Blank to lose.

4. Floyd Reese: The former general manager of the Tennessee Titans has been out of the NFL since losing a power struggle with coach Jeff Fisher two years ago. He is extremely competent, has the blue-collar attitude needed in the Browns' division and could leave Savage to do the scouting work for which he is most qualified. He would be an asset.

5. Ron Wolf: He retired as Green Bay general manager after the 2000 season, but many feel Wolf still has the NFL know-how to rebuild a Football organization. It's a pipe dream, though, because Wolf has understandably bad feelings about the Browns since Butch Davis rebuffed him as a consultant hired by Carmen Policy in 2004. Had that not happened, Wolf might have replaced Davis as GM in '05 and the Browns wouldn't be in the position they are today.

On the mend: Browns legend Jim Brown is recuperating at his Los Angeles-area home after having a hip replacement about a month ago. Brown's health problems started two years ago with a painful battle with stenosis. After the pain became unbearable, Brown had a new examination and a hip replacement was recommended.

"I feel better already," Brown said Friday. "I'm walking with a cane, can stand straight up and can get in and out of a car."

Brown hopes to return to the links in a couple of months.

As for his take on the Browns, Brown said: "I think ownership is going to evaluate everything and make decisions. Ultimately, it's [owner Randy Lerner's] decision. I'm sure he'll be very direct in what he wants to do."

Speaking of J.B.: Carolina's DeAngelo Williams is one long touchdown away from tying a 50-year-old record set by Brown.

Williams has six touchdown runs of 30 yards or longer this season. Brown set the record of seven in 1958.

"It's an honor being in the same sentence as Jim Brown, one of the NFL all-time greats," Williams told the Charlotte Observer.

As usual, there should be an asterisk when one of Brown's records is surpassed. He set this particular one in a 12-game season. Williams has the benefit of 16 games.

In 1958, Brown's seven long TD runs averaged 53 yards. Williams has averaged 46.5 in his six.

At least five teams that did not make the playoffs last year will make it in 2008. Arizona, Atlanta and Carolina are new teams that have clinched a spot in the postseason. Minnesota or Chicago will be the fourth new team and the fifth and sixth might come from Baltimore, Miami and the Jets. Denver could also be a new team. Since 1999, at least five new playoff participants have emerged every year.

1999: Seven playoff teams that did not make it previous season

2000: Six

2001: Six

2002: Five (including Browns)

2003: Eight

2004: Five

2005: Seven

2006: Seven

2007: Six

2008: Potentially eight