BEREA, Ohio -- Mike Pettine is well aware of the talk about the Cleveland Browns as training camp approaches, and he's well aware of the history of the Browns changing coaches.

Pettine is the fourth head coach of the Browns since 2008. If he makes it to a third year, he will be the first Browns coach to do so since Romeo Crennel got four years from 2005-08.

But the Browns coach said he does not think about job security.

"I think if you ever get to the point where you're thinking about that," he said, "then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy."

Even if the chatter about the Browns is nearly all negative. Few preseason prognosticators think the Browns will match last year's win total of seven, and most expect double-digit losses. Fair or not, that's the kind of season that could lead to more speculation about the future of Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer.

Pettine said he's simply not wired to think about decisions affecting his future. He makes decisions based simply on what he believes will win.

When asked about the majority of preseason prognosticators predicting the Browns to finish fourth in the AFC North, Pettine turned to a plaintive wail -- for him.

"Call the league … cancel the season."

Pettine then addressed the situation practically, saying it speaks to the quality of the other three teams in the AFC North.

"I mean, all three teams are coming off playoff seasons," he said. "How do you put us anywhere but there?

"But that's fine," Pettine continued. "We use that. I'd rather it be, 'Think of us that way.' Go ahead. We're a fourth-place team and you look at the Browns on the schedule and [say], 'Hey, I can go ahead and put a W right next to it.'

"But to me, that only works in our favor."

Pettine will gladly play the "disrespected" card, the "underdog" card, the "overlook-the-Browns" card and every other card teams and coaches use for motivation.

It's a matter of whatever works.

"I think," Pettine quipped, "I saw one [prediction] that had us fifth in the division."