DaytonDailyNews.com

Won't be long now before Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner gathers his advisers to discuss the future. Maybe it will go something like this:

Lerner (dribbling a soccer ball, glancing at his watch): OK, let's make this quick. I've got a conference call with my Aston Villa management team in about 20 minutes. Phil Savage, we're keeping you on as general manager because we don't want to start over again from scratch. But you're on notice.

Savage: Understood. Now, what are we doing about a coach?

Lerner: Well, it won't be Cowher. He signed an extension with CBS, and I'm not sure he'd come here anyway and risk tainting his Steeler legacy. I'm open to suggestions. Jim?

Jim Brown: What about Sam Rutigliano? If we're considering Schottenheimer, why not Sam? He's not that old, and the Kardiac Kids were exciting back in the day.

Lerner: Did you skip your nap today, Jim? Why are we paying you? Anyone else?

Bob Kain: What about making a run at a top college coach? Maybe Stoops at Oklahoma. He's got Ohio roots. Or maybe Tressel's ready to jump.

Lerner: OK, who are you again?

Savage: I worked with Brian Billick in Baltimore. Sure, he's pompous and egotistical and was kind of a fraud as an offensive guru, but he did win a Super Bowl. And I think he's ready to get back in the game after a year in the broadcast booth.

Lerner: Guess he'd be better than some assistant or coordinator nobody's heard of. Don't get me started on coordinators. OK, get Billick on the phone. I'm in a hurry. We're in third place in the Premier League, you know, and they worship the ground I walk on over there.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408 or smcclelland@DaytonDailyNews.com.