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If There Was Any Question, Jackson's Interest Manziel As His QB Isn't High
According to Akron Beacon Journal staffer Nate Ulrich, newly-hired head coach Hue Jackson made it clear in a half dozen radio interviews since being hired, his primary focus this offseason will be on finally bringing a legitimate franchise quarterback to Cleveland. “We need a very consistent and dominant quarterback,” Jackson said Thursday on SiriusXM Radio. “That’s what this team has to have in order for us to be successful.”

A "dominant" quarterback would be something that fantasy football owners interested in maximizing the value of Josh Gordon, Gary Barnidge, Travis Benjamin and Duke Johnson appreciate.

By the way, it seems safe to assume that quarterback won't be Johnny Manziel, the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 draft whose personal issues and off-field behavior have overshadowed the progress he showed on the field during his second NFL season.

Appearing with the FootballDiehards on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio Saturday night, Elyria Chronicle-Telegram Scott Petrak echoed that notion.

"No matter who the coach was, Johnny had small odds of returning," Petrak noted. "Any coach would be done with him."

Petrak added, the new coach will likely gain "instant respect in the locker room" with a decisive approach. And Jackson sounds pretty decisive.

In an interview Friday on SiriusXM NFL Radio, co-host Solomon Wilcots asked Jackson: “Johnny Manziel is there. Maybe you keep him. Maybe you don’t. Maybe you move on. What kind of quarterback are you looking to pair yourself with?”

The coach replied, “Outside of all of the physical characteristics that we look for in a quarterback, the thing I’m looking for is a guy that’s going to the face of the franchise, somebody that our players can rally behind, somebody that our fans can rally behind, that they believe that this guy has a chance to go out week in and week out and win games, a guy that can help elevate this football team, not anybody that’s going to tear it down because I think it’s too hard in the National Football League to have a guy like that.

“[The quarterback needs to be] all-consumed with one thing: being the best quarterback he can be and being the best leader he can be. That’s the kind of guy I’m looking for.”

On Thursday, Jackson stressed the quarterback must “represent the organization well” and “carry the flag for us.”

He also emphasized how much he values character.

“Obviously, we will be able to look into this player’s past and see exactly what he’s done because what you see is what you get,” Jackson said. “What’s in there is the same things you’re going to get as you move forward. People don’t change too much that way, so it’s going to precede them, and we’ll know exactly what the character of that person is."

Jackson outlined the traits he seeks in a quarterback Friday on the team’s radio show.

Armed with the second overall pick in this year’s draft, the organization with 24 starting quarterbacks since 1999 will likely have an opportunity to select the highest-rated prospect at the game’s most important position. The Titans own the No. 1 overall choice but aren’t in the market for a quarterback after drafting Marcus Mariota at No. 2 last year.

So, barring another team trading with the Titans to move up to No. 1, the Browns will get the first crack at this year’s QB class if they so desire.

And it sounds like they will desire.

“We haven’t had a quarterback play real consistent here over the course of a season, be it injuries, be it other things,” Jackson said Thursday on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike. “So we need to first look at that position and see who’s on our roster [Manziel, Josh McCown, Austin Davis, Connor Shaw and Pat Devlin] and then see can they help us win. And if they can’t, then we need to go out and acquire a quarterback, regardless of where it is: two, 32, wherever we think the best fit is for us.”

In an interview Thursday with WKNR (850-AM), Jackson was asked if he’s opposed to drafting a quarterback early.

“If he’s good enough, I am not against it,” he replied. “But if he’s not, then obviously we don’t want to take one just to take one.”

Owner Jimmy Haslam has also expressed a willingness to use that No. 2 pick on a signal caller.

California quarterback Jared Goff has been mentioned as a possibility with that second pick. As Ulrich suggested, only time will tell whether the Browns believe Goff fits Jackson's description.

But it certainly sounds like Manziel doesn't. ...

Also worth noting. ...Jackson interviewed former Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton on Friday, but is leaning towards not having a coordinator in his first year as head coach of the Browns.

"Right now in my mind, I don't really plan on having an offensive coordinator, because I want to reserve that right to call plays,' Jackson said. "That's something that's gotten me this job, so it's something that you're an expert at. You want to continue to work at that and keep that in your pocket so you can use it to help your team.'

According to Cleveland Plain Dealer staffer Mary Kay Cabot, Hamilton, 41, would most likely play a key role on the offense, but it's unclear what his title would be. Like his successor in Indianapolis, former Browns coach Rob Chudzinski, Hamilton could possibly end up as an assistant head coach/offense.

Chudzinski was promoted to Colts offensive coordinator full-time after the season after serving two seasons as associate head coach.

Whatever the case, Jackson earned high praise for his play calling with the Bengals, finishing seventh in scoring en route to a 12-4 record in 2015. He also coached Andy Dalton to a 106.2 rating, second-best in the NFL. It was a dramatic improvement from the 80s he posted in each of his first four seasons. He also threw 25 touchdown passes against only seven interceptions.

Jackson, who hopes to have his staff completed in a couple of weeks, also has two other names in mind for his offense: Vikings running backs coach Kirby Wilson and Green Bay assistants offensive line coach Mike Solari, who would presumably coach the line.

Browns special teams coordinator Chris Tabor has survived his third coaching change.

Wilson, who tutored Steelers running backs from 2007-13 and Vikings backs the past two seasons, would be running game coordinator here -- if the Vikings approve the promotion.

It remains to be seen if Jackson will retain running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery, with whom he worked in Baltimore. Quarterbacks coach Kevin O'Connell is not expected to stay. According to ESPN's Adam Caplan, offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who was originally one of four coaches asked to remain if the new coach wanted them, was informed on Saturday that he has been released from his contract.