Written by Thomas Moore

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Ian Rapoport of NFL.com is reporting that the Cleveland Browns and University of Oregon coach Chip Kelly are close to a deal that would make Kelly the Browns' sixth head coach since the franchise returned to the NFL in 1999.

Rapoport says the deal is close, citing a "a source informed of (Kelly's) situation."

Kelly, who has never spent a minute working in the NFL in any capacity, would bring a sense of offensive excitement to the Browns, but also brings along as many questions as answers.

But for a Browns team that has tried everything - and failed - since firing Marty Schottenheimer as coach after the 1988 season, it may be time to try something new.

Of course, nothing is official until Kelly actually signs on the dotted line. At this time last year, Kelly and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were finalizing a deal for Kelly to coach the Buccaneers before Kelly changed his mind and returned to Oregon for a fourth year.

So Browns fans may want to hold off on buying those souveneir visors for just a few more days.