BRIEFLY\Browns fans will generate flood of e-mail.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

They've phoned. They've faxed. They've posted peevish postcards and mailed angry letters. And today unhappy fans of the Cleveland Browns will be able to lobby the NFL on the Internet.

"We've already done the postcards - the 'snail mail,' we call it - and we're working on petitions and faxes," Gary Christopher, the campaign's Internet specialist, said. "We thought . . . we would take it to the next level."

The proposed cyber-assault on Browns owner Art Modell's plans to move his football team to Baltimore raises the specter of a flood of e-mail.

Save Our Browns has designated today as "Internet Day." Browns backers will be able to use a special link to send a single e-mail message to more than 750 addresses at the same time - media outlets, national state and local political leaders in Ohio and Maryland as well as NFL team owners, sponsors and the league offices.

The Miami Dolphins' wooing of Jimmy Johnson proceeded this week under an attempted shroud of secrecy despite two years of speculation their marriage was inevitable. Both sides hoped to reach an agreement by the end of the week. Team owner H. Wayne Huizenga has said Johnson, former coach of the Miami Hurricanes and Dallas Cowboys, is the leading candidate to replace Don Shula.

Wayne Fontes, given a make-the-playoffs-or-else ultimatum by Detroit Lions owner William Clay Ford after the team started 3-6, will return next season despite an embarrassing first-round playoff loss to Philadelphia.

Bob Field will remain at UCLA as assistant head coach but will give up his defensive coordinator position. Assistants Terry Tumey, Larry Marmie and Gary Bernardi also will return.

Marshall has selected Florida defensive coordinator Bob Pruett as its head coach.

The Big Ten and Pac-10 are having discussions in Dallas about joining the bowl alliance, a move that would guarantee a national championship game every year in college football.

The San Diego City Council approved a $66.6 million stadium expansion package designed to keep the Chargers in town through 2020.

BASEBALL

Roger Freed, mostly a reserve during eight seasons in the major leagues, died in Chino, Calif., of heart problems. He was 49. A backup first baseman and pinch hitter, Freed had a career average of .245 with 22 home runs and 109 RBI in 344 games with the Orioles, Phillies, Reds, Expos and Cardinals from 1970-79.

Kevin McClatchy, easing fears that his deal to buy the Pittsburgh Pirates might unravel at the last minute, said investors have agreed to cover any possible shortfalls in cash.

Free-agent infielder Rene Gonzales, 34, and the Texas Rangers agreed to a minor-league contract.

Rickey Henderson, baseball's career stolen base leader, is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service for possible unreported income from autograph shows, a source told The Associated Press.