Mike Holmgren looked for houses during his recent trip to Cleveland, which may soon be his new NFL home.

Terming a chance to assume control of the struggling but tradition-rich Browns as "very, very appealing," Holmgren said yesterday that he's weighing owner Randy Lerner's job offer and intends to give Cleveland a decision on his future "sooner than later."

As for Seattle, Holmgren may have finally said goodbye.

The Super Bowl-winning coach, who spent two days meeting with Lerner earlier this week, said during his radio show on Seattle's KJR that he liked everything he learned about the Browns during a "fact-finding" visit.

Holmgren, the former coach of the Seahawks and Green Bay Packers, praised Lerner and the Browns' organization. He complimented embattled coach Eric Mangini. He said he hasn't had much time to study quarterback Brady Quinn, but would be eager to.

About the only thing Holmgren didn't say about the Browns was: I accept.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for anybody," Holmgren said. "It's about as good a job situation as you could ask for in this business."

The 61-year-old Holmgren did not rule out a return to coaching. When asked if a potential job in Cleveland would encompass team president, general manager or coaching, he said, "it would be any and all, I would say."

Holmgren wants to talk to the Seahawks about returning to the team he coached for 10 years. But to this point, Seattle is not showing the same interest.

BENGALS

TEAM MOVING ON AFTER TRAGEDY

One day after the death of teammate Chris Henry, the Bengals tried to focus on the field as they prepared for a key game at San Diego.

Music was playing in the locker room as players packed up to leave for California. The team also held a 90-minute afternoon practice yesterday.

With a win over the 10-3 Chargers, the Bengals (9-4) will clinch the AFC North title and grab the inside track for the second seed in the conference playoffs.

The 26-year-old Henry died in North Carolina on Thursday, a day after falling out of the back of a pickup truck during what police described as a domestic dispute.

"It really wouldn't matter where we were at, we're going to pull it together as a family," offensive guard Bobbie Williams said. "Coaches and players included. We're going to ball that fist up and try to deliver a good, solid punch to whoever. If we were here or on the road it doesn't matter. We're going to be that unit."

ELSEWHERE

Fines: St. Louis Rams guard Richie Incognito was fined $50,000 by the NFL for two unnecessary roughness fouls.

Playing for the Rams last Sunday in a 47-7 loss at Tennessee, Incognito head-butted Sen'Derrick Marks in the first half. He did the same thing to Vincent Fuller later in the half, then was benched by coach Steve Spagnuolo.

The Rams released him Tuesday and he signed with Buffalo on Thursday.

Jets: Quarterback Mark Sanchez will start for the New York Jets against Atlanta after missing one game with a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Coach Rex Ryan said the rookie was medically cleared by team doctors after practicing three straight days.

Time change: The starting time of tomorrow's game between the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears has been moved back to 4:15 p.m. EST because of an impending heavy snowstorm.

The game was originally scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

Rams: St. Louis has returned to the practice field yesterday, a day after an undisclosed number of swine flu cases on the team forced them to cancel a workout.

Running back Steven Jackson and quarterback Kyle Boller were among four players who missed yesterday's workout due to flu-like symptoms.

Law and order: Ex-NFL running back Lawrence Phillips has been sentenced to more than 31 years in prison for attacking his girlfriend and driving his car into three teens in 2005.

Phillips, 34, was sentenced yesterday in San Diego for assault and other crimes.

Phillips played for St. Louis, Miami and San Francisco.