"President Mike Holmgren conceded he's "a little ticked off" about the Browns finishing the 2011 season with a record of 4-12, but he warned fans not to expect the organization to radically change its plans for rebuilding.

"We know what we have to fix," Holmgren said. "But we're not going to blow it up and start all over."

Instead, the Browns will stick with their philosophy of constructing a roster through the draft. They won't rely heavily on free agency. And they will remain committed to coach Pat Shurmur, who will hire an offensive coordinator after encountering plenty of adversity and heartbreak in his first season with the franchise.

At least those were the main messages Holmgren and General Manager Tom Heckert delivered Thursday during a 70-minute, season-ending news conference.

Holmgren said he met Wednesday with owner Randy Lerner, who expressed support for the front office's "stay-the-course" mantra. Holmgren also preached about the importance of avoiding quick-fix solutions by making decisions to help the team for the long haul.

"The fans here have been a little long-suffering," Holmgren said. "We are driven. We put pressure on ourselves to do the right things to get this thing turned around and going in the right direction."