BEREA, Ohio (AP) As the Cleveland Browns, his all-consuming pet rebuilding project, went through drills earlier this week, team president Mike Holmgren ventured onto the rock-hard practice field and called over kicker Phil Dawson for a chat.

With coach Eric Mangini standing only meters away, Holmgren, bundled in a heavy jacket to combat December’s biting cold, talked to other players and then with Gil Haskell, his longtime friend and one of the trusted advisers he brought to Cleveland.

Last year, Holmgren traded his whistle for an executive’s tie.

He might be about swap them again.

With the Browns perhaps on the verge of a coaching change, quarterback Seneca Wallace believes Holmgren is angling for a return to the sideline.

“I kind of do just because things probably haven’t turned out the way he wanted on offense and being an offensive guy, I think he still has that itch to come back to coach,” said Wallace, who played seven seasons for Holmgren in Seattle. “But at the end of the day, he’s going to make the right decision for the rest of the team.”

Yep, the Browns (5-10) could be getting a makeover. This one, though, might not be quite as extreme.

Mangini, given one reprieve by Holmgren last January, may not get a second as the Browns stagger to the finish of another disappointing season — their ninth with double-digit losses in 12 years. Cleveland has gone just 2-5 since a midseason upset of New England, and unless the Browns can stun Pittsburgh on Sunday, Mangini will close his second year with a four-game losing streak.

That may be enough for Holmgren to make a coaching change, assuming he hasn’t already made up his mind to replace Mangini, who will carry a 10-21 overall record — 2-9 vs. the AFC North — into Sunday’s regular-season finale.

When Holmgren last met with reporters on Nov. 2, he said he would wait until after the season before making a decision on Mangini. He also left open the possibility of a return to coaching.

“I would be less than honest if I didn’t say I get fired up watching the games,” he said. “I mean I did that (coach) for too long not to react sometimes the way I do, but I also recognize what I was hired to do and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Browns owner Randy Lerner brought in Holmgren to fix his franchise, which has undergone nearly constant change in the past decade.

If Mangini gets fired, the 62-year-old Holmgren, who won a Super Bowl with Green Bay and an NFC championship with Seattle, will quickly jump to the top of a list of possible replacements. There could be several other big-name candidates available, including Jon Gruden, John Fox, Bill Cowher and others.

But Holmgren simply packing up his belongings and moving down the hall to a new office would cause the least uproar for organization craving calm. Unlike previous years, there doesn’t seem to be nearly as much concern about the possibility — and potential likelihood — of change.

Maybe that’s because Holmgren is overseeing it.

“He brings credibility to the whole organization,” said Dawson, who has seen his share of turnover in 11-plus seasons with Cleveland. “I think if you ask anyone, they would say the same thing. Guys are confident that he knows what he wants to do, and we’ll all have to wait and see what happens. But no one seems to be panicking or anything like that.”

Many Browns fans can’t bear the thought of another coaching change, but Wallace believes they should be comforted by Holmgren’s presence.

“He’s a person who is going to build a foundation,” said Wallace, who started four games this season. “I don’t think over the last couple of years there’s been a foundation. There has been a lot of turnover. And I think once you build that foundation and that type of mentality, it’s going to build for the future.”

Holmgren has spent the year evaluating Cleveland’s roster, which has been upgraded by general manager Tom Heckert — Holmgren’s first hire. Holmgren knows what’s needed and what’s not, a fact that would make his potential takeover as coach that much more seamless.

When Holmgren accepted Lerner’s offer to restore the Browns, he did so knowing it would be hard to shake the coaching bug. It’s all the former high school history teacher has known since becoming an assistant at his alma mater in San Francisco 40 years ago.

Amid a peppering of questions about his future with the Cleveland Browns, coach Eric Mangini told reporters Friday that bulldozing running back Peyton Hillis missed practice again Friday with a rib injury, and would be monitored closely leading up to Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I’m optimistic he’ll play, but we’ll see,” Mangini said, adding that Hillis is still experiencing soreness. “Figured another day of rest would be good.”

Mangini said the Browns are not opposed to adding another running back to the roster on Saturday if Hillis’ status declines.

“We can still do something tomorrow, if need be,” Mangini said. The Browns’ second-year coach praised the work of backup Mike Bell, who rushed for 27 yards last week against the Baltimore Ravens.

“I thought he looked good (against Baltimore),” Mangini said. “I thought he had his best week of practice last week — and it translated. He’s had another good week of practice this week.”

Mangini acknowledged that the team might turn to Joshua Cribbs and the Wildcat to bolster a running game that’s relied almost entirely on Hillis, who has rushed for 1,164 yards with 11 touchdowns and been a revelation for a team in search of an identity on offense.

Mangini was asked if his uncertain future with the team weighs heavily as he prepares for the Steelers.

“I feel really good about this week … it’s been consistent,” Mangini said. “There is uncertainty with some things, but the guys have responded exactly the way I’ve asked them to. … You also want the guys to enjoy the week and appreciate the week … it’s the Steelers and the rivalry, and all those things.

“I think this organization has a tremendous future, a bright future, and I’m excited to be a part of that,” Mangini said.

Mangini was asked if he would agree to make sweeping changes to the coaching staff, if mandated by Browns president Mike Holmgren.

“With hypotheticals like that, I’d rather just sit down with Mike and see what he says,” Mangni said, adding that the two would likely meet Monday.

BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis is missing his third practice in a row because of lingering sore ribs from a hard hit.

Hillis hasn’t practiced all week as the Browns (5-10) prepare for their regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4).

He was injured last Sunday when he took a shot to the side from Baltimore safety Ed Reed on his second carry.

Browns coach Eric Mangini remains optimistic that Hillis will play on Sunday. He said Hillis has gotten better each day and he will wait until Saturday before making any roster decisions. Mangini said Hillis is still mostly bothered by soreness.

In his first season with the Browns, Hillis has rushed for 1,146 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

BEREA, Ohio (AP) – Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis is missing his third practice in a row because of lingering sore ribs from a hard hit.

Hillis hasn’t practiced all week as the Browns (5-10) prepare for their regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4). He was injured last Sunday when he took a shot to the side from Baltimore safety Ed Reed on his second carry.

Browns coach Eric Mangini remains optimistic that Hillis will play on Sunday. He said Hillis has gotten better each day and he will wait until Saturday before making any roster decisions. Mangini said Hillis is still mostly bothered by soreness.

In his first season with the Browns, Hillis has rushed for 1,146 yards and 11 touchdowns.

BEREA, Ohio (AP) – Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis is missing his third practice in a row because of lingering sore ribs from a hard hit.

Hillis hasn’t practiced all week as the Browns (5-10) prepare for their regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4). He was injured last Sunday when he took a shot to the side from Baltimore safety Ed Reed on his second carry.

Browns coach Eric Mangini remains optimistic that Hillis will play on Sunday. He said Hillis has gotten better each day and he will wait until Saturday before making any roster decisions. Mangini said Hillis is still mostly bothered by soreness.

In his first season with the Browns, Hillis has rushed for 1,146 yards and 11 touchdowns.