The Browns were ready to let Peyton Hillis go around midseason, but now they want to keep the running back. Hillis missed five games with a hamstring injury and also skipped a contest because of strep throat in 2011. Since then, though, Hillis has worked his way back into the team's good graces, according to a source. Cleveland has until March 13 to sign him without other teams being able to bid on him.

Brad Childress is the frontrunner to become the offensive coordinator for the Browns, according to a report in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Plain Dealer, citing a league source, reported that the Browns had narrowed their search to Childress and Mike Sherman, but Sherman is close to becoming the offensive coordinator for the Dolphins.

Expressing disappointment and frustration following another lousy season in Cleveland, Mike Holmgren said Thursday he and GM Tom Heckert have no plans to dismantle the work they've already done. "We know what we have to fix, but we're not going to blow it up and start it all over," Holmgren said. "We're going to stay the course and do it a certain way."

Browns coach Pat Shurmur sidestepped questions about the futures of quarterback Colt McCoy and running back Peyton Hillis on Tuesday. After going 4-12 in his first season as Cleveland's coach, Shurmur said McCoy improved in his first full year but would not commit to the 25-year-old as his starter for 2012. "As we go forward with Colt, I feel like he's done some really good things," Shurmur said. "Get him back healthy, get him in an offseason where he has a chance to develop. ... I expect Colt will improve, just as I expect (backup quarterback) Seneca (Wallace) will improve and whoever the quarterbacks are here. That can be said for all positions. "The best quarterback will play when we start the season."