In his first attempt to upgrade his franchise for next season, Browns owner Randy Lerner already has been rebuffed.

Lerner was in New York on Saturday to meet with and to try to persuade former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher to come to Cleveland. But Lerner apparently got the same message that this space has been reporting since the beginning of the season.

Cowher is not interested in coaching in 2009.

As much as Lerner tried to convince Cowher to come to Cleveland, he could not do it. Cowher just is not mentally ready to return to the sidelines in 2009, and he is expected to give the same answer to any other team that comes calling — i.e., the New York Jets.

Last year Cowher rejected the Redskins overtures to become Washington’s head coach, now he’s done the same to Cleveland. Finally people are starting to believe that Cowher means what he says — No coaching in ’09.

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