CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With Mike Sherman close to becoming offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins, former Vikings coach Brad Childress is the frontrunner for the Browns' vacancy at that position, a league source told The Plain Dealer.

The Browns had narrowed their choices to Sherman, the former Packers coach, and Childress, the former Vikings coach, the source said. But Sherman spent Thursday with the Dolphins and came close to taking the job, where he would replace former Browns coordinator Brian Daboll.

That means Childress -- the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia from 2003-05 when Pat Shurmur was quarterbacks coach there -- will likely become the Browns first coordinator under Shurmur. The hiring could happen in the next few days.

Shurmur was his own coordinator in 2011 and called the plays. The Browns finished 29th in offense and 30th in points per game, scoring just one more point (218) than the 1999 expansion team.

Shurmur and Childress spent seven years together on the Eagles staff under Andy Reid before Childress left to take over as head coach of the Vikings from 2006-10.

But if Childress is hired, will Shurmur relinquish his play-calling duties?

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Shurmur said during his season-ending press conference that he'd be willing to do that if the right coordinator came along. He acknowledged that he's good friends with Childress and respects his ability.

Childress, 55, did not call the plays under Reid in Philadelphia, but was on the staff for three consecutive NFC title games and a trip to the Super Bowl in 2004. Childress was the quarterbacks coach from 1999-2002, as quarterback Donovan McNabb earned three of his six trips to the Pro Bowl.

Childress was fired by the Vikings after 10 games of 2010 season after going 39-35 in his four-plus years, and 1-2 in postseason. The Browns did not interview him for the coordinator job last season.

Both Childress and Sherman are represented by agent Bob LaMonte, who also represents Browns President Mike Holmgren and Shurmur.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot