Browns Fans hopeful new coach will bring more change

“And boy, what a challenge”.

Former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson was hired Wednesday as coach of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, who shared the league’s worst record last season at 3-13.

The 50-year-old Jackson has earned a reputation for being an offensive innovator as well as being tough but fair with his players.

As they reboot again, the Browns are hoping Jackson’s experience in Oakland – another franchise with its share of dysfunction – will help them get back to relevancy quickly.

Michael Silver of Sports Illustrated was told by Jackson that the Browns “made [him] feel comfortable” in a second interview and that’s why he choose Cleveland as his landing spot.

With a new coach and new front office structure, the time is right to end the Johnny Goofball Era. “I can’t worry about what’s happened before me”.

Owner Dee Haslam hugged him immediately before Jackson stepped into the circle. While owner Jimmy Haslam specifically mentioned executive V.P. of football operations Sashi Brown, chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, outside search consultant Jed Hughes, and Haslam’s wife (and L.A. Relocluster representative) Dee, there was not a single mention during the entire press conference of team president Alec Scheiner.

“The theme from every single one of them was alignment”, Haslam said.

Manziel, the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 draft, has provided Cleveland no shortage of off-the-field issues since becoming a Brown.

In Jackson, the Browns not only added a bright offensive mind with an extensive working knowledge of the AFC North, but weakened a divisional opponent in the process.

“It’s been very humbling and it’s been a lot harder than we thought”, he said that night.

Cleveland reportedly will jettison Johnny “football” Manziel and according to reports this was a stipulation from Jackson in taking the job.

When it comes to Manziel, that will all certainly be questioned. Manziel has been a major distraction during two drama-filled seasons with the Browns.

Jackson will be the Browns’ 12th full-time coach I’ve covered since I started in 1981 and I’ve never seen anything like it.

He needs to do the same with Cleveland’s coaching staff, which is expected to look dramatically different in 2016. You would be surprised, and I’m being very honest, I have 142 text messages on my phone.

“I’m really proud of Hue”, Harbaugh said. “I know that this is about wins and losses”.

Jackson revamped Cincinnati’s offense. He pushed quarterback Andy Dalton to his best statistical season and was known for his creative flair with unbalanced lines and unorthodox formations. The Bengals were among the league’s most exciting offenses with a solid balance and quick-strike capability. The Browns have been stuck in a cycle of losing since their expansion rebirth.

Seahawks’ Lynch practices • Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch was a full participant in practice but coach Pete Carroll cautioned that was not an indication that Lynch will play Sunday in the Seahawks’ playoff game, against the Panthers.

The Raiders were a team in turmoil at the time and his struggles didn’t seem to follow him to Cincinnati, where Dalton developed a nice rapport with wide receiver A.J. Green under Jackson’s watchful eye.

“We’re chasing greatness”, he said. That’s what we’re interested in doing.

“We expect to win every game we play”.

While the 8-8 record also tied for the club’s most wins since the 2002 squad lost Super Bowl XXXVII, Jackson was still fired.